Rupture and Repair: How Mindful Communication Can Support Teams

Written by: Carlyn LaGrone

A nearly inevitable aspect of being part of a team of any kind are conflicts and miscommunications. Whether it's a point of tension, misunderstanding over a project detail or a disagreement in ideas, these moments of rupture can disrupt team harmony. However, the real challenge—and opportunity—lies in how teams work towards resolving these ruptures and maintaining the existing relationships. This is exactly where mindful communication comes in, and can offer a peaceful yet direct way to navigate and reconcile these tensions in the road with empathy and clarity.

Understanding Ruptures in Team Dynamics

In reality, ruptures in team dynamics are more common than we might like to think. Research shows that about 70% of organizational change initiatives fail, often due to miscommunication and conflict among team members. According to a study by the Project Management Institute, “poor communication is a leading cause of project failure, affecting 56% of projects globally” (PMI). These disruptions can appear minimal, like a misinterpreted tone in an email, or larger scale, such as a tense disagreement during a meeting. While they might feel uncomfortable, these moments are a normal part of working closely with others. 

The key is not to avoid them but to address them effectively when they arise. 

Mindful communication involves being transparent and fully present during interactions, with the intention to both understand and be understood clearly. To do this, it’s imperative to approach conversations with a sense of awareness and willingness to see outside of your own perspective, rather than reacting with knee jerk reactions or without pause. Below are key aspects of mindful communication and how it can help in these conflicts:

Active listening is a pivotal part of mindfully communicating with others around you. This means genuinely focusing on what the other person is saying without preparing your response or letting your mind go elsewhere. Active listening enables you to grasp the person's perspective fully, which is essential in navigating and working through misunderstandings. A report by the Harvard Business Review reveals that teams with effective listening skills experience a 25% improvement in performance (HBR). By showing the other person that you’re truly engaged, you not only foster a space based in respect but also work to ensure the other person feels heard and valued by you.

Empathy is another critical aspect of mindful communication. It involves not just hearing the words but also tuning into the emotions behind them. Brené Brown defines empathy as the ability to be vulnerable and to connect with another person's experience and feelings. She notes there’s a few parts to exhibiting empathy:

• Perspective taking which is understanding another person's point of view or situation.
• Staying out of judgment which encourages and creates space for someone to express their feelings or experiences without fear of being judged or criticized.
• Responding with compassion which is offering support and comfort that reaffirms that their emotions matter.

Mindful communication also requires authenticity and honesty. When trying to resolve issues, it’s important to work to express your thoughts and feelings clearly and directly. This being said, in moments of conflict, it’s easy to react impulsively, especially when emotions are involved. This effective communication pushes for a true and intentional pause before responding. It allows you to consider what you are going to say thoughtfully, instead of responding in your heightened emotional state or out of frustration and/or anger. By taking this moment to process and reflect, you can reply in a way that can foster resolution and understanding.

And lastly, a big way to make sure both sides feel engaged is working together on finding solutions. This might include taking a moment to discuss what happened, what can be done differently in the future and even creating game plans for the future to prevent similar issues. Collaborative problem-solving increases a sense of teamwork and mutual respect into the workplace culture. Collaborative teams are both more innovative and adaptable in their problem-solving approaches within team members which can impact a teams productivity and success.

Ruptures are an inescapable part of team dynamics, but they don’t have to derail team performance, morale or overall culture of a workplace. By embracing mindful communication, teams can navigate conflicts and misunderstandings with greater sense of respect, ease and empathy. Taking on conflict with mindful communication can turn potential disruptions into opportunities for growth and stronger connections for a team. At the end of the day, how we manage these moments of tension can define the strength and resilience of teams.