Your team chemistry cookbook

Proven plays for every team challenge.

When Builders clash with Dreamers, start here.

How We Built This Playbook

This isn't theory. It's pattern recognition.

Our sources:

  • Google's Project Aristotle team dynamics research
  • Patrick Lencioni's "Five Dysfunctions of a Team"
  • Kim Scott's "Radical Candor" communication framework
  • Thousands of team interactions from our beta users
  • Cross-cultural team studies from INSEAD and MIT

What we found:

The same conflicts happen everywhere. But with the right translation, they become creative friction.

The Universal Plays

Play #1

The Translation Bridge

When great ideas get lost in translation

🚨 Situation:

Your Visionary pitched brilliantly. Your Builders look confused.

✅ The Fix:

  1. Visionary paints the dream: "Imagine when..."
  2. Analyzer breaks it down: "This means we need..."
  3. Builder creates first step: "I'll start with..."

💬 Magic phrase:

"Let me translate that into next steps..."

🧠 Why it works:

Different types literally process language differently. Research shows Artistic types use more metaphors, Realistic types prefer concrete terms.

📚 Source:

Linguistic analysis of Holland types, Journal of Vocational Behavior

Play #2

The Energy Audit

When meetings drain everyone

🚨 Situation:

Every meeting feels like death by PowerPoint.

✅ The Fix:

  1. First 10 min: Connector leads check-in (energizes Social types)
  2. Next 20 min: Analyzer presents data (energizes Investigative types)
  3. Final 20 min: Builder plans action (energizes Realistic types)
  4. Last 10 min: Visionary paints success (energizes everyone)

💬 Magic phrase:

"Let's match this agenda to our energy..."

🧠 Why it works:

MIT's Pentland research shows teams perform best when everyone gets "air time." This structure ensures each type gets their moment.

📚 Source:

Pentland, "The New Science of Building Great Teams", HBR

Play #3

The Conflict Transmuter

When different styles clash

🚨 Situation:

Turn clashes into creative friction with the right translation.

âš¡ Common Clashes & Fixes:

Builder vs. Analyzer
Builder: ""Just ship it!""
Analyzer: ""But the data says...""
Bridge: ""What's the smallest test we can run?""
Visionary vs. Guardian
Visionary: ""Rules are meant to be broken!""
Guardian: ""Process exists for a reason!""
Bridge: ""Which rules help our vision, which block it?""
Innovator vs. Specialist
Innovator: ""Let's try something new!""
Specialist: ""We've perfected the current way!""
Bridge: ""How can innovation enhance our expertise?""

🧠 Why it works:

📚 Source:

Based on Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument, adapted for RIASEC types through our user research.

Play #4

The Hiring Hack

When you need to complete your chemistry

🚨 Situation:

Your team's energy gaps reveal who to hire next.

🎯 Energy Gaps & Solutions:

Missing Creative Energy?
Post job emphasizing: "reimagining", "pioneering", "creating"
Interview question: "Tell me about breaking a rule that worked"
Look for: Innovators, Visionaries, Craftspersons
Missing Execution Energy?
Post job emphasizing: "building", "shipping", "implementing"
Interview question: "Walk me through making an idea real"
Look for: Builders, Guardians, Specialists
Missing People Energy?
Post job emphasizing: "collaboration", "team harmony", "culture"
Interview question: "How do you handle team conflict?"
Look for: Connectors, Catalysts

🧠 Why it works:

📚 Source:

Language in job posts attracts different RIASEC types. Wille & De Fruyt (2014), "Vocations as a source of identity"

Play #5

The Project Matcher

Match project types to team chemistry

🚨 Situation:

Different projects need different energy combinations.

🎯 Project Types:

Innovation Projects
Need: High Creative + Investigative energy
Lead with: Innovators or Visionaries
Support with: Analyzers for feasibility
Execution Projects
Need: High Realistic + Conventional energy
Lead with: Builders or Guardians
Support with: Catalysts for momentum
Transformation Projects
Need: High Enterprising + Social energy
Lead with: Catalysts or Connectors
Support with: Visionaries for direction
Research Projects
Need: High Investigative + Conventional energy
Lead with: Specialists or Analyzers
Support with: Guardians for process

🧠 Why it works:

📚 Source:

Based on Belbin Team Roles research crossed with RIASEC patterns, validated through our beta user project outcomes.

Quick Chemistry Fixes

Meeting feels dead?

Add a Catalyst. They'll wake everyone up.

Too much talk, no action?

Add a Builder. They'll start making things.

Moving too fast?

Add a Guardian. They'll save you from yourself.

Stuck in the details?

Add a Visionary. They'll remind you why you started.

Team feels disconnected?

Add a Connector. They'll weave everyone together.

Ready to build your perfect team?

Start with understanding your current chemistry, then use these plays to optimize it.

Build your perfect team →