Improving Team Communication (with Playmobil:))
As Scrum Masters, one of our key responsibilities is to effectively help improving team communication. Not always an easy task! Especially when team members have very diverse personalities. In one of my teams we encountered challenges because the communication styles varied so greatly. Some of the team members are extraverted and eager to take the lead, while others are way more reserved and need time to respond.
To address this, we did a retrospective about our communication styles with the help of the Rose of Leary.
What is the Rose of Leary?
The Rose of Leary is a psychological model that maps out different behavior types along two axes:
- Dominance (Above vs. Below);
- Cooperation (Together vs. Against).
These behaviors influence and provoke responses from others, creating a dynamic interplay. The model helps teams visualize how one person’s behavior can affect the entire group and how shifting one’s behavior can change the course of interaction.
The Retrospective
First, I asked my team to think of real-life cases from our last sprint that they wanted to explore using the Rose of Leary. They chose a conversation they had with a client, which had not gone as smoothly as they had hoped.
Next I invited each team member to pick a Playmobil figure and put it on the Rose of Leary diagram to represent where they stood during the conversation. They took turns and each placed their figure in the starting position. We discussed their initial positions, and then I asked:
- “What happened next?”
As the conversation progressed, each person’s position shifted. For instance, when one team member took the lead, others naturally moved to a more supportive or following role. However, tension arose when one person adopted a rebellious stance, leading others to withdraw.
Experimenting with New Behaviors
After playing out the scenarios, I encouraged the team to experiment with different positions. I asked questions like,
- “What would you have said if you had taken the rebellious position?” or
- “How would the conversation have changed if you had taken the lead?”
This exercise provided interesting insights into different communication styles and how they affect team dynamics. And it provided a safe space for team members to experiment with positions they would normally never take!
Finally, I asked each team member:
- “Where would you ideally want to stand in the team?” and:
- “What do you need to get there?”
Everyone naturally gravitated toward the “together” half of the model.
This was such a great reflection for the team! It made our communication styles, the impact of behavior and the choice of taking a certain position completely transparant, without any judgment.
Conclusion
The result?
- Improved collaboration.
- Better mutual understanding.
- A team that is more aware of how their interactions influence each other.
So, if you feel your team could benefit from improving team communication and gaining deeper insights into their communication styles, try the Rose of Leary Retrospective!
Need more inspiration on team improvement? Have a look at The Scrum Values Retrospective and Defining our Ideal Team Culture.
