Most teams move fast. Ours did, too.
We were focused on hitting goals and solving problems, always keeping things moving. Like many growing teams, we had not taken the time to fully align with how we worked together.
That changed when our Detection & Analysis (D&A) leadership team participated in a Cohesive Teams session.
At first, it felt familiar. The session included personality assessments and team discussions. Many of us have experienced similar exercises before.
This time was different.
We were a newly formed team with a mix of tenures and perspectives. Being in the same room gave us the opportunity to step back from execution and focus on how we collaborate.
Moving from Alignment to Clarity
One of the first things we realized was that alignment on goals is not enough.
We needed clarity on things like how we communicate and give feedback, as well as how we hold each other accountable.
Documenting those expectations, we made them part of how we operate every day.
Making Trust Practical
Trust is often described as a value. We treated it as a behavior.
We had direct conversations about conflict and learned how to give feedback in a way that builds relationships instead of damaging them. As leaders, we began creating space for feedback from our teams.
These are small shifts, but they have a meaningful impact on performance.
Leading as One Team
We also changed how we operate as a leadership team.
Instead of solving challenges individually, we committed to working through them together first. This ensures that when we communicate with our teams, we do so with clarity and alignment.
It reduces confusion and builds confidence across the organization.
The Ongoing Work
The session helped us build a strong foundation quickly, especially as a newer team.
We are proud of our focus on results and execution. At the same time, we are intentionally creating space to think long-term and avoid getting stuck in constant urgency.
Why It Matters
Taking time to work on how a team operates may feel like a pause. In reality, it is an accelerator.
When teams trust each other, communicate clearly, and take shared ownership, they move faster and perform better.
That is what having a cohesive team makes possible.