Most Team Challenges Start with People, and So Does the Solution
When something feels off in a team—whether it’s tension in conversation, unclear communication, or a dip in energy—it’s easy to focus on surface solutions like new tools, adjusted workflows, or updated goals.
But most of what teams experience day to day isn’t about broken systems. It’s about people.
Not because anyone is doing something wrong, but because humans are complex. We all bring our values, habits, personalities, and communication styles to the table. And when those aren’t clearly understood by ourselves or by each other, misalignment happens.
It’s Not About Fixing People. It’s About Understanding Them.
Hiring someone who doesn’t quite fit. Feedback that misses. Conflict that never really gets addressed. These aren’t signs of failure. They’re signals that something deeper needs attention: awareness.
Awareness of self.
Awareness of others.
Awareness of the team.
When we understand ourselves—our reactions, motivations, and blind spots, we are more equipped to understand those around us. And when a team builds this kind of shared awareness, it builds trust, alignment, and momentum that lasts.
Awareness Is the Foundation
Awareness is often labeled a soft skill, but the data tells a different story. Studies show that teams with strong emotional intelligence, clarity around shared values, and a culture of honest reflection consistently outperform those without it.
Still, most of us overestimate how self-aware we actually are. Research from organizational psychologist Dr. Tasha Eurich found that while 95 percent of people believe they’re self-aware, only about 10 to 15 percent actually are.
That gap affects how teams communicate, how leaders lead, and how connected people feel to one another and to their work.
StepBack Sessions: Planting the Seed of Awareness
At EMI, we believe awareness is the seed. When teams take time to plant it, everything else—communication, performance, resilience—has the opportunity to grow.
That’s why we created StepBack Sessions.
StepBack Sessions are 15-minute, intentional conversations built into your team’s natural rhythm. They create space to reflect, realign, and reconnect, without adding more to your plate. Each session is grounded in research and designed to spark honest dialogue and meaningful growth.
Over time, these small, consistent conversations have a big impact. They help teams:
- Build shared language around values and expectations
- Navigate challenges with clarity and confidence
- Strengthen connection and trust
- Create a culture where people are seen, heard, and understood
Not because the team is being fixed, but because it is being supported in growing—together.
People First. Always.
Every team has untapped potential. But growth doesn’t start with tools or tactics. It starts with people.
And it begins with awareness.
Awareness is the seed.
StepBack Sessions help you plant it.
