
Teamwork has become increasingly important, but many teams are still a long way from true high performance. In today's fast-paced, innovation-driven world, building high-performance teams is more important than ever. But what makes an effective team, and how can leaders ensure that their teams are top performers? Understanding the key characteristics of effective teams can help organizations foster collaboration, increase productivity and achieve their goals. However, the main problem is that many managers have never been made aware of how to deal with high-performance personalities.
Involving talented employees in teams can be a unique advantage. These individuals often bring innovative ideas and critical thinking skills to the table, contributing to team success. However, this often leads to friction as talented, innovative employees are not always the easiest to work with! This article looks at the key characteristics of effective teams, successful team members and sensitized leaders, as well as strategies for building high performing teams that leverage the strengths of talented employees.
Characteristics of Effective Team
High performers have common characteristics that set them apart from average groups. These characteristics enable them to achieve outstanding results while maintaining a positive and productive work environment. Among their peers, they are much more motivated to go full throttle. I always like to give the example of a super athlete. If he is always surrounded by beginners who run much worse and slower than him, he will be less motivated than if he is surrounded by other very good runners. This is also the way to build high-performance teams: They have to motivate each other!
Clear Goals and Objectives
An effective team starts with clearly defined goals. When team members understand the goals and their individual role in achieving them, they are more likely to stay on task and motivated.
- Why it matters: Clear goals provide direction and purpose.
How to implement: Ensure that every team member understands the overall mission and their specific tasks.
Very talented people in particular are more likely to miss their target if the goal is not clearly defined. It is therefore important that they always keep this in mind. Only then can they really work together successfully. - How to implement: Make sure each team member understands the overall mission and their specific tasks.
Open and Effective Communication
Clear, authentic communication is the backbone of any successful team. Open communication channels promote collaboration, reduce misunderstandings and improve overall team performance.
- Why it matters: Effective teamwork in the workplace thrives on clear and honest communication.
- How to implement: Encourage regular team meetings, feedback sessions, and open forums for discussion. There are various communication tools to express and clarify feelings.
Mutual Trust and Respect
Trust and respect among team members create a safe environment where individuals feel valued and empowered to contribute.
- Why it matters: Trust builds a strong foundation for collaboration.
- How to implement: Promote transparency, honesty, and mutual respect in all interactions.
Diverse Skills and Complementary Strengths
Teams with diverse skills and complementary strengths can tackle complex problems more effectively.
- Why it matters: A mix of skills enhances problem-solving and innovation.
- How to implement: Recognize and leverage the unique strengths of each team member, including gifted individuals who bring specialized talents. In order to utilize these strengths, it is important to raise awareness of particularly talented employees among managers and we are happy to support you in this! Please feel free to contact us!
Characteristics of Successful Team Members
Building an effective team requires more than just good leadership - team members must also possess certain qualities. Read my other article on the characteristics of particularly talented employees.
Collaboration and Teamwork
Successful team members prioritize collective success over individual achievements. They are willing to support each other and share knowledge.
- Why it matters: Cooperation fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose.
- How to implement: Encourage team members to help each other and celebrate collective achievements.
Strong Communication Skills
Clear and concise communication is essential for team success. Effective communicators can convey ideas, listen actively, and provide constructive feedback.
- Why it matters: Communication coaching skills can enhance team interaction.
- How to implement: Provide training in communication and conflict resolution.
Reliability and Accountability
Dependable team members who take responsibility for their actions contribute to a trustworthy team environment.
- Why it matters: Accountability builds trust and reliability within the team.
- How to implement: Establish clear expectations and hold team members accountable for their performance.
Attributes of Effective Team Leaders
Strong leadership is essential for building and maintaining high-performance teams. Effective leaders possess specific attributes that inspire and guide their teams to success.
Visionary Leadership
Visionary leaders provide a clear direction and inspire their teams to strive for excellence.
- Why it matters: A clear vision aligns team efforts and motivates members.
- How to implement: Share the big picture with your team and involve them in goal-setting.
Emotional Intelligence
Leaders with emotional intelligence understand their team members' emotions and manage interpersonal dynamics effectively. Since neurodiverse managers often have a high intelligence quotient, but not always an equally high emotional quotient, we provide extra training for nerds in management positions. Because emotional intelligence can also be improved through exercises.
- Why it matters: Empathy and understanding improve team morale and cohesion.
- How to implement: Practice active listening, provide emotional support, and manage conflicts constructively.
Ability to Cultivate Talent
Effective leaders identify and nurture the strengths of their team members, especially gifted individuals.
- Why it matters: Cultivating talent helps build high-performance teams.
- How to implement: Offer mentorship programs and create opportunities for growth.
Looking for ways to increase communication in your team? Read my article on team-building activities in the workplace!
The Advantages of Gifted Individuals in High-Performance Teams
Gifted individuals bring unique strengths that can elevate team performance.
Enhanced Problem-Solving Abilities
Gifted people often excel in critical thinking and problem-solving, providing innovative solutions to complex challenges.
- Why it matters: Innovative solutions drive team success.
- How to implement: Encourage creative thinking and involve gifted individuals in strategic discussions.
Driving Innovation and Growth
Their unique perspectives can lead to breakthroughs in processes, products, or services.
- Why it matters: Innovation is key to staying competitive.
- How to implement: Provide platforms for gifted individuals to share their ideas and be amongst themselves. Because they flourish among each other and feel understood.
Fostering a Culture of Excellence
Gifted individuals often set high standards, which can inspire their teammates to strive for excellence.
- Why it matters: High standards can elevate overall team performance.
- How to implement: Recognize and reward high performance.
Challenges to Building High-Performance Teams
While building high-performance teams is rewarding, it comes with challenges that need to be addressed.
Poor Communication
Communication breakdowns can hinder team effectiveness and cause misunderstandings. Building effective teams via communication is the cornerstone of a high-functioning office.
- Why it matters: Clear communication is essential for success.
- How to implement: Establish communication protocols and encourage feedback.
Lack of Clear Direction
Without clear goals, teams can become disorganized and inefficient.
- Why it matters: Clear direction keeps teams focused and productive.
- How to implement: Set SMART goals and regularly review progress.
Resistance to Change
Inflexibility can stall progress and innovation.
- Why it matters: Adaptability is crucial in a fast-paced environment.
- How to implement: Foster a growth mindset and promote adaptability.
Underutilized Talent
Failing to leverage the full potential of team members, especially gifted individuals, can result in missed opportunities.
- Why it matters: Maximizing talent enhances team performance.
- How to implement: Identify strengths and provide opportunities for growth.
Strategies for Building High-Performance Teams
To overcome challenges and build effective teams, implement the following strategies.
Establishing Clear Goals and Roles
Setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals ensures that teams stay focused and productive.
- How to implement: Assign roles based on individual strengths.
Enhancing Communication Skills
Improving communication within the team can prevent misunderstandings and foster collaboration.
- How to implement: Introduce communication coaching skills and hold regular team meetings.
Fostering Trust and Collaboration
Building trust and promoting collaboration enhance team cohesion. Regular spaces are needed to clearly address and resolve conflicts.
- How to implement: Organize team-building activities and encourage transparency.
Leveraging the Strengths of Gifted Individuals
Integrating gifted individuals effectively can boost team performance.
- How to implement: Provide mentorship and create knowledge-sharing opportunities. Sensitize your managers to neurodiverse employees.
Building high performing teams requires a deep understanding of the characteristics of effective teamwork, strong leadership and utilizing the strengths of talented individuals. By focusing on communication, trust, collaboration and continuous development, organizations can create an environment where all team members thrive.
Take action today and build your high-performance team. Check out more resources or consider our professional coaching programs to increase your team's potential.

Effective communication is the key to a successful team. In today's world of work, where many teams work remotely or are made up of different cultures, the importance of good communication is becoming increasingly important. Team building activities can help to break down communication barriers and create an open, productive atmosphere. Neurodiverse employees in particular benefit from clear communication structures and targeted exercises, as they often have special communication needs.
The importance of team communication
Communication is at the heart of every successful collaboration. Without clear communication, misunderstandings, conflicts and inefficient work processes arise. Particularly when working with autistic people, employees such as those from SAP or Auticon in Germany have said that they benefited greatly when they learnt to communicate clearly and directly, not between the lines and without irony.
Why effective communication matters
Effective communication promotes productivity and mutual understanding. Teams that communicate effectively are able to solve problems faster and complete projects more efficiently. Neurodiverse employees in particular, such as highly gifted individuals or people with ADHD, benefit from clear lines of communication as they often tend to recognise complex relationships quickly but struggle to make them understandable to others.
Common communication challenges in the workplace
Misunderstandings, lack of feedback and different communication styles often lead to problems. For neurodiverse people, such as autistic people, non-verbal signals can be harder to interpret, creating further barriers. Team building activities help to bridge these differences and build understanding.
Benefits of team building activities
Team building activities offer numerous benefits that go far beyond improving communication. They promote cohesion, trust and understanding for each other.
Why effective communication in teams is important
Effective communication promotes productivity and mutual understanding. Teams that communicate effectively are able to solve problems faster and complete projects more efficiently. Neurodiverse employees in particular, such as highly gifted individuals or people with ADHD, benefit from clear lines of communication, as they often tend to recognize complex relationships quickly but have difficulty making them understandable to others.
Common communication challenges in the workplace
Misunderstandings, lack of feedback and different communication styles often lead to problems. For neurodiverse people, such as autistic people, non-verbal signals can be harder to interpret, creating further barriers. Team building activities help to bridge these differences and build understanding.
Benefits of team building activities
Team building activities offer numerous benefits that go far beyond improving communication. They promote cohesion, trust and understanding of each other.
Enhancing communication skills
Activities such as role-playing or communication games can promote active listening and the ability to express oneself clearly. For neurodiverse employees, such exercises are particularly helpful in strengthening their social and communication skills.
Building trust and collaboration
Trust is the basis of any successful collaboration. Shared experiences in team building activities create bonds and help to break down barriers. This is especially important for neurodiverse employees who often have difficulty integrating into social groups.
Boosting engagement and morale
Fun and creative exercises increase motivation and morale in the team. Neurodiverse employees often come up with unusual ideas, which makes such exercises even more exciting.
Top team building activities to improve communication
Here are some practical communication activities that are great for improving team dynamics:
Activity 1: Two truths and a lie
- Description: Each team member shares three statements about themselves - two of them are true, one is a lie. The others have to recognize the lie.
- Benefit: This exercise encourages active listening and strengthens understanding of colleagues' personalities. For neurodiverse employees, this can help to better understand social interactions.
Activity 2: Marshmallow Challenge
- Description: Teams build the tallest structure out of spaghetti, tape and a marshmallow.
- Benefits: Promotes creativity, problem solving and collaboration. Highly talented employees often come up with unusual solutions.
Activity 3: Feedback round
- Description: Each team member gives positive and constructive feedback to other team members.
- Benefit: Promotes open feedback and strengthens trust in the team. It is important for neurodiverse employees to receive clear and structured feedback.
How to implement team-building activities effectively
For team building activities to be successful, they should be well planned and facilitated.
Choosing the right activities
Consider the needs of the team. For teams with neurodiverse employees, structured exercises are sometimes more suitable than spontaneous activities, but some neurodiverse employees like spontaneity. Make sure that the activities take into account the communication styles of all participants.
Setting clear goals
Define in advance what you want to achieve with the activities. Do you want to improve communication, strengthen trust or promote cohesion?
It is important for neurodiverse employees to have clear expectations.
Facilitating and debriefing
Good facilitation ensures that all team members are involved. The findings can be reflected on and recorded in the debriefing. Neurodiverse people in particular benefit from clear instructions and feedback.
Tips for sustaining improved communication
Team building activities should not be a one-off event, but should be carried out regularly.
Regular practice
Incorporate activities into the daily work routine on a regular basis. This will keep the communication skills of all team members at a high level.
Fostering an open communication culture
Create an environment where feedback is welcome and opinions are respected. It's important for neurodiverse employees to feel safe to express their thoughts. And it is important for managers to learn that criticism from neurodiverse employees is not directed at them, but is only meant as a suggestion for improvement. But it is also important for them to communicate clearly if they feel attacked by criticism.
Leveraging professional support
Communication training by experts can help to overcome specific challenges.
Neurodiverse individuals particularly benefit from targeted communication training that takes their individual strengths into account.
Team-building activities are an effective way of improving communication within a team. Especially in teams with neurodiverse employees, they help to strengthen understanding, trust and cooperation.
Use these activities to create an open and productive team culture. We will be happy to support you. Get in touch with us!

In a modern working world characterized by digitalization and rapid change, effective communication within teams plays a crucial role. Misunderstandings, unclear instructions or a lack of feedback can have a significant impact on the success of a project. This is where communication coaching comes in to help teams interact more effectively with each other and thus increase their productivity and satisfaction.
Neurodiverse people in particular, such as the gifted, autistic or those with ADHD, often bring unique perspectives and creative problem solving to teams. However, their communication sometimes differs from that of their neurotypical colleagues, which can lead to misunderstandings. Communication coaching helps to bridge these differences and create synergies.
Why Team Communication Skills Matter
Effective communication is at the heart of a successful team. It promotes the exchange of information, mutual understanding and collaboration. However, without targeted support, communication problems can lead to conflict and inefficiencies.
Impact on Team Dynamics
Communication skills influence how well a team works together. Teams that communicate clearly are characterized by a high level of cohesion and trust. It is particularly important for neurodiverse employees that communication processes are clear and comprehensible. Autistic people, for example, often prefer direct and precise language, while people with ADHD benefit from short, clear instructions.
Benefits of Strong Team Communication
- Increased productivity - When all team members know what is expected of them and have clear goals in mind, they work more efficiently. Clear communication avoids duplication of effort and reduces the need for corrections.
- Improved collaboration - An open communication culture allows team members to share ideas and learn from each other. Neurodiverse people often contribute innovative ideas. It is important to recognize and value this input.
- Better conflict resolution - Communication skills help to resolve conflicts more quickly and effectively. Especially in teams with different personalities and neurodiverse employees, conflicts can arise when communication styles clash. Communication coaching shows ways to use these differences productively. After all, the music experts at the German Chamber Philharmonic have already stated: “High performance needs dissonance”
Is your team high performance? Check out the article on Characteristics of Effective Teams to find out!
Common Challenges in Team Communication
Despite the importance of communication, there are always challenges that need to be overcome. Communication barriers can arise, especially in teams with different neurodiverse employees.
Barriers to Effective Communication
- Language differences and cultural barriers - Teams are often international in composition. Different cultural backgrounds lead to different communication styles that can be misunderstood.
- Technological misunderstandings - In an era of remote working, digital communication channels are essential. However, autistic people in particular, who are usually unable to classify irony, for example, can be overwhelmed by written communication. Communication coaching helps to select suitable channels, agree on types of communication and thus rule out misunderstandings.
- Different personality styles - Some people are more introverted, others more extroverted. Neurodiverse people often tend to present complex ideas in great detail, which can overwhelm other team members. Communication coaching shows how such differences can be used productively.
Miscommunication and Its Effects
Miscommunication can have a serious impact on teams. A simple misunderstanding can lead to errors, delays and additional costs.
- Examples of the effects of miscommunication - A project team that receives unclear instructions could overlook important details, resulting in a faulty end product. Similarly, misinterpretation of priorities can lead to teams working on less important tasks while urgent projects are neglected.
- Impact on team morale and trust - Miscommunication can significantly affect trust between team members. When instructions or expectations are not clear, employees can feel frustrated or misunderstood. This leads to a decrease in motivation and has a negative impact on team dynamics.
How communication coaching improves team communication
Communication coaching offers practical approaches to improve a team's communication skills and utilize the individual strengths of each team member.
What is communication coaching?
Communication coaching is a targeted approach that helps teams analyze and improve their communication patterns. Unlike general training, coaching focuses on individual needs and challenges.
Neurodiverse team members benefit from tailored communication strategies that highlight their particular strengths and break down potential barriers.
Benefits of communication coaching
- Individualized approach: Coaching is customized to the specific needs of the team for maximum impact.
- Skills development: The focus is on active listening, empathy and clear messaging. Especially with highly gifted individuals or people with ADHD, it is important to create clear structures and get to the heart of communication.
- Improved team dynamics: Coaching strengthens relationships within the team, leading to better understanding and increased trust.
Strategies for building effective teams through communication coaching
There are several strategies that teams can implement through communication coaching to sustainably improve their communication.
Developing a communication plan
A clear communication plan helps to avoid misunderstandings and structure team communication. It should take into account the communication needs of all team members.
Implementing team workshops and Training
Workshops provide a practical way to practice communication skills. Interactive activities encourage engagement and strengthen understanding of different communication styles.
Aligning communication coaching to team goals
Improved communication should always be aligned with the team's goals. Coaching demonstrates how clear communication contributes to achieving these goals.
Measuring the impact of improved communication skills
To evaluate the success of communication coaching, it is important to measure the impact on team performance.
Assessing team performance
Conduct regular assessments to track changes in team efficiency and effectiveness. Indicators such as project completions, error rates and employee satisfaction provide insight into success.
In one of our case studies, for example, it was shown that the manager had improved the worst department so that they were in demand worldwide and socially incompatible employees became innovation leaders. The manager achieved this after gaining more knowledge about neurodiverse employees.
Gathering feedback
Feedback is essential to understand the impact of communication measures. Regularly seek the opinions of team members and use the findings to further improve the communication process.
Strong team communication is essential for the success of modern teams. Communication coaching helps to utilize the individual strengths of all team members and establish open, trusting communication.
Neurodiverse team members often bring special talents and perspectives that can be optimally utilized through targeted communication strategies. Teams that improve their communication become more productive and innovative.
Are you considering communication coaching for your team to strengthen collaboration and achieve your team goals more effectively? Then get in touch with us!
Effective communication in the workplace is the key to a successful business. It influences almost every aspect of day-to-day operations - from team productivity to employee satisfaction and the quality of customer relationships. Without clear communication structures, misunderstandings, delays and a drop in motivation can quickly occur. It is therefore crucial to develop strategies that improve communication within organizations to create a positive, productive working atmosphere.

Benefits of Improved Workplace Communication
Good communication brings numerous benefits that have a direct impact on company performance and success.
Increased efficiency and productivity
When all team members know exactly what tasks need to be completed and how they contribute to achieving company goals, they work more efficiently. Clear instructions and open lines of communication reduce delays and errors.
- Tip: Hold regular meetings to ensure that all employees are on the same page. Every employee has different ways of absorbing information and these should be known. If an employee is a visual learner, there is no point in telling them something over and over again.Write it down and they can remember it.Every project manager and manager should be familiar with these different ways of recording their employees
Increased Efficiency and Productivity
When all team members know exactly what tasks need to be completed and how they contribute to achieving company goals, they work more efficiently. Clear instructions and open lines of communication reduce delays and errors.
Tip: Hold regular meetings to ensure that all employees are on the same page. Every employee has different ways of absorbing information and these should be known. If an employee is a visual learner, there is no point in telling them something over and over again. Write it down and they can remember it. Every project manager and manager should be familiar with these different ways of recording their employees.
Enhanced Employee Satisfaction
Employees who feel heard and understood are happier and more committed. An open communication culture promotes well-being and trust in management.
- Tip: Create an environment in which employees can express their concerns freely.
Better Customer Relationships
Improved internal communication also has an impact on customer service. When teams are well informed and work together effectively, customers benefit too.
- Tip: Make sure customer service teams have access to up-to-date information and clear instructions.
Enhances Team Collaboration and Productivity
Good communication promotes team collaboration. Misunderstandings are reduced and projects are completed faster and more successfully.
- Tip: Promote a culture of collaboration through team workshops and joint activities. But pay attention to special needs: some employees hate group events because it is too loud for them, too much action, etc. But these employees should also feel part of the team. But these employees should also feel part of the team.
Be sensitive to these particular employees and ask what kind of group activities they would like.
Reduces Misunderstandings and Conflicts
Unclear instructions or a lack of information can quickly lead to errors and conflicts. Clear communication significantly reduces this risk.
- Tip: Use precise and simple language to give instructions.
Improves Employee Engagement and Morale
Communication plays a crucial role in motivating employees. When employees feel that they are part of the company's goal, their commitment increases.
- Tip: Give regular feedback and praise successes.
Signs of ineffective communication
There are several warning signs that indicate communication problems in the company:
- Repeated misunderstandings and mistakes
- Lack of clarity in instructions
- Decrease in employee satisfaction
- Increase in conflict and tension within the team
If you recognize these signs, it's important to take action to improve communication.
Common Barriers to Effective Communication
There are several challenges that can get in the way of effective communication.
Physical and Remote Work Challenges
Remote working has created new barriers to communication. Lack of face-to-face interaction can lead to misunderstandings and isolation.
- Solution: Use video conferencing and digital tools to encourage face-to-face contact.
Cultural and Language Differences
In international teams, cultural differences and language barriers can lead to misunderstandings. As neurodiverse people sometimes have their own culture, confusion can also arise in national teams with neurodiverse people due to different cultures.
- Solution: Sensitize your team to cultural differences and promote inclusive communication.
Technological Miscommunications
Over-reliance on technology can lead to misunderstandings, especially when messages are misinterpreted.
- Solution: Choose the right means of communication for the situation at hand - e.g. face-to-face conversations instead of emails for sensitive topics. Decisions should never be based solely on WhatsApp or chat messages; at least one phone call is always necessary to avoid any misunderstandings, if not a face-to-face meeting.
How to Communicate Effectively at Work
Managers and employees should use various strategies to improve communication.
Practice Active Listening
Listen to understand, not just to respond. This shows respect and builds trust.
- Tip: Ask questions to make sure you have understood the message correctly.
Use Clear and Concise Language
Avoid jargon and formulate your thoughts clearly and understandably. Irony can be funny and lighten the mood, but especially in the intercultural sector, clear communication without irony makes more sense. Especially in groups with neurodiverse employees, as autistic people in particular often have problems understanding irony correctly. Sometimes even when they use irony themselves.
- Tip: Use short, concise sentences and repeat important points.
Be Aware of Non-Verbal Cues
Body language, facial expressions and gestures play a major role in communication. They can either create clarity or cause confusion. Non-verbal signals are often misinterpreted, especially by nerds and geeks and autistic people, so never rely solely on non-verbal signals, make it clear what you expect!
But non-verbal communication can also be learned by geeks and nerds. Contact us to learn how you can master the art of communicating more effectively.
- Tip: Pay attention to your non-verbal signals and interpret those of your counterpart correctly.
Adapt Communication Styles
Adapt your communication style to the respective target group. High-ranking experts may need different information than new team members.
- Tip: Prepare your messages according to your audience's level of knowledge.
How Leaders Can Improve Communication with Their Teams
Managers play a crucial role in encouraging open and authentic communication.
Encourage Open Feedback
Create a culture in which feedback is welcome and seen as an opportunity for improvement. Open feedback from employees to their managers should also be possible. Because nerds and geeks are very direct, they say straight away if they don't think something makes sense. Managers who feel offended by this will no longer enjoy working with these employees in the future due to their own hurt feelings and will not promote them. In doing so, you are blocking a great source of innovation for your company!
- Tip: Ask for feedback regularly and offer constructive feedback and be open to criticism, even if your nerds sometimes deliver it in the wrong tone.
Hold Regular Team Meetings
Team meetings promote the exchange of information and strengthen team cohesion.
- Tip: Plan weekly or monthly meetings to keep all team members up to date.
Utilize Appropriate Communication Channels
Choose the right means of communication depending on the situation - email, meetings, chat or face-to-face conversations.
- Tip: Clarify which channels should be used for which type of messages.
Provide Communication Training
Training programs can help improve employees' communication skills. Especially for nerds and geeks, who are usually top in their field but lack social skills, improving communication through the right training makes a lot of sense! Feel free to contact us about this!
- Tip: Invest in workshops and coaching to improve communication.
Strategies to Enhance Communication in the Workplace
Effective communication requires continuous effort. Here are some strategies you can implement.
Establish Clear Objectives and Expectations
Make sure all team members know what is expected of them.
- Tip: Use SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound)
Foster a Collaborative Culture
Create an environment where teamwork is encouraged and everyone's contribution feels valued.
- Tip: Organize regular team building activities.
Implement Technology Solutions
Use tools such as project management software and communication platforms to facilitate collaboration.
- Tip: Choose user-friendly and effective technologies.
Recognize and Address Communication Issues
Be proactive when it comes to identifying and solving communication problems.
- Tip: Hold regular feedback sessions to identify potential problems at an early stage.
Effective, authentic communication in the workplace is crucial to a company's success. It increases productivity, improves employee satisfaction and strengthens customer relationships. By working together to overcome communication barriers and implement clear communication strategies, managers and employees can create a positive work culture where everyone can reach their full potential.
Want to find out more about communication training? Contact us and find out how we can help you improve communication in your organization and the integration of neurodiverse employees to foster more innovation!
Transformation zu einer nachhaltigen und digitalen Welt? PISA? Die 17 Nachhaltigkeitsziele der UN können auch für das Bildungssystem selbst nutzbar gemacht werden – das ist gut für Lehrkräfte und Schüler:innen sowie eine nachhaltige Entwicklung der Schulen - und der Welt!
Wie sieht eine nachhaltige Schule aus, wie zukunftsfähige, digitale und sozialgerechte Bildung?
Das Buch gibt Antworten auf solche Fragen. Es geht um nachhaltige (digitale) Bildung, Zukunftskompetenzen, Draußen-Lernen, aber auch um Persönlichkeits-, Kreativitäts- und Begabungsentfaltung, Teamentwicklung, starke Schulgemeinschaften etc. mit praxisnahen Ideen und Aspekten aus Psychologie, Sozial- und Sonderpädagogik.
Darüber hinaus bietet es Anregungen für die Vermittlung von BNE (Bildung für nachhaltige Entwicklung) und liefert Ideen zwecks Vorbereitung auf PISA 2025.
Geschrieben wurde dieses Buch von einer Gruppe unabhängiger Autoren:innen – Menschen aus der Praxis (siehe Anhang). Mit dabei: Deutscher Schul-, UNESCO- sowie Projekt N-Preisträger!
Beitrag von Alice Moustier in diesem Buch:

Every team has different personalities, from extroverted chatterboxes to introverted loners. However, when an employee with poor social skills comes into play, it can challenge the dynamics and teamwork in an interesting way. But don't worry, all hope is not lost!
This blog post is designed to help you overcome the hurdles and discover the talent in such employees.
An employee with poor interpersonal skills can present various difficulties and challenges. Here are some of the most common issues that can arise:
Limited communication skills
Employees with poor interpersonal skills may have difficulty expressing themselves effectively and communicating their thoughts and ideas appropriately. They may prefer to work in private and sometimes seem impersonal or distant.
Problems with teamwork and cooperation
Working with other team members can be a challenge for employees with poor social skills. They often withdraw and tend to distance themselves from group activities or discussions, which affects the team dynamic. They also often don't like conflict and prefer to avoid it… which sometimes makes the conflict worse. Because
Lack of sensitivity for interpersonal issues
Employees with poor social skills may find it difficult to perceive and respond appropriately to the feelings and needs of their colleagues. This can lead to conflicts and discomfort in the team.
It is important for the other members of the team to understand that in some cases it is not a lack of sensitivity, but a different perception. Because such nerds and geeks perceive a lot, but sometimes so much unfiltered that they can't distinguish the important from the unimportant and reading the feelings of others is sometimes too stressful.
How can an employee learn social skills?
But don't panic! There are ways in which employees with poor social skills can improve their interpersonal skills and contribute to a positive team dynamic. The important thing to remember here is that it's not just people with limited social skills who can learn social skills! The people around them can also learn to better understand these "different" people and therefore no longer feel so easily offended.
Training and further education
We offer training courses to enable nerds, geeks and their team colleagues to communicate better and more empathetically.
In these trainings, nerds and geeks learn techniques that help them improve their social skills. Communication techniques, conflict resolution and empathy are important aspects covered in our trainings.
Mentorship and collaboration with other team members
Ensure that the collaborator works with experienced colleagues who have strong interpersonal skills. A mentor can give the nerd person valuable advice and helpful feedback to improve their interactions with others. In our seminars, we describe in more detail what such a mentoring program can look like and what it brings.
Positive reinforcement and recognition
Give the nerd person positive feedback when they make an effort to improve their social skills. Acknowledge their progress and encourage them to work on their weaknesses. Positive reinforcement can work wonders!
Encourage constructive teamwork
But how can you promote constructive teamwork and even make the team more innovative thanks to this striking person and their difference?
Clear communication and expectations
Make sure that all team members are informed about the expectations and goals for the team. After meetings, it makes sense to interactively ask again what has actually been agreed. Geeks also get bored quickly in meetings and then switch off, but forget to retain the most important information.
Clear communication is the key to a smooth workflow and can reduce uncertainty.
Team tasks and cooperation
Give team projects and tasks where team members can work together and contribute their strengths. But also give geeks the opportunity to work for themselves; teamwork is twice as hard for geeks. In such projects, employees with few social skills can benefit from the skills and ideas of other team members and get to know new perspectives.
Celebrating diversity and being different
Not every person on the team has to be the same! See the stand-out person in your team as an opportunity to incorporate new ways of thinking and make the team more innovative.
In their book "5-Second Model", the Bremen Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra described very well that high performance requires dissonance. And dissonance will occur above all in heterogeneous teams. We may often perceive dissonance as unpleasant, but what if we imagine classical music without dissonance? That would be really boring!
So be happy about every difference in your team and appreciate diversity!
We are happy to support you and your team in doing everything, but everything but ordinary!
Because everyone is already ordinary! 😉
If you have questions to this topic, write us a mail: kontakt@alice-moustier.com
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Morgen geht es los... in Potsdam startet dieses Jahr wieder die #Convention der German Speaker Association (#GSA). Ich freue mich bereits sehr darauf. Dieses Mal sogar in meinem damaligen Wohnort, wo ich 2016 meine #Selbstständigkeit begann: in #Potsdam. Und mittlerweile lebe ich weit entfernt davon und habe sogar eine Firma gegründet. Damals hätte ich das niemandem geglaubt, wenn mir jemand diese Zukunft vorausgesagt hätte!
Das Interview-Video, welches ich gestern im Post verlinkt hatte, wurde vor zwei Jahren bei der Convention in #Neuss gedreht.
In meinem bald erscheinenden Buch über meine Gründungsjahre erzähle ich auch viel über Potsdam. Daher möchte ich dich die nächsten Tage mit auf die Reise nehmen und dir über meine Erlebnisse in Potsdam berichten. Hast du Fragen zur Gründung allgemein oder spezifisch in meinem Fall? Dann schreibe sie hier gerne in den Kommentar!
#Nerds#Geeks#ITfachkräfte#kommunikationstraining
Tanja Gatzk
With a passion for IT and communication:
Why I decided to work with nerds and geeks or how I became a GeekyAliki 😜
Exactly two years ago I held an interview here in Neuss with Uli Funke and his colleague Selina Hare about my work in the IT field and the communication between nerds and their environment.
The day after tomorrow I will be at the same event again, this time in Potsdam. And you may guess which event it is 😉.
As a communications enthusiast for IT companies, I have the opportunity to use my skills to help nerds and geeks unleash their communication talents. It's often a challenge to combine technical expertise with effective communication. My expertise is in helping IT professionals develop their interpersonal communication skills and improve their presentation skills, because being #introverted doesn't stop you from succeeding!
In my trainings, I focus on giving participants tools and techniques to explain complex technical concepts in an understandable and engaging way. After all, in a time when IT is playing an increasingly important role in businesses, it's crucial that IT experts are able to communicate their ideas and solutions clearly and persuasively so that ordinary people can understand them too 😉 .
I am convinced that everyone can improve their communication skills, regardless of their individual strength for technology. It's about building a bridge between technical expertise and the ability to share that expertise.
In doing so, concise and understandable communication is important to me. After all, the simpler and clearer we can express ourselves, the better we can communicate ideas and inspire others with our vision. In my trainings, I help participants to structure their communication, to get to the point, and at the same time to be lively and descriptive. And very important in teams are the emotions. Because geeks mean many purely factual, but it often comes across hurtful to the communication partner.
My great passion is to see IT professionals who are not only technically brilliant, but also able to communicate their thoughts and ideas effectively. My vision is that IT companies can benefit from these talents and take their teams to a new level of communication.
So if you know of a company that would like to make a targeted investment in the communication skills of its employees, I'd be happy to help. Let's change the world of IT together with convincing and precise communication!

HEC Paris - Yesterday I went to visit my grandfather's university.
The buildings looked quite new, 70s. I soon learned that my grandfather had not studied here, but that the HEC used to be in the middle of Paris. The building where he had studied was this one.
And funny enough, yesterday I met friends from Lyon who now live right next to our former shoe shop. You can still tell from the house number that it was where the clothes shop "Carlaraffi" is now.
I passed by #Dräger France SAS yesterday, but since it was a holiday, I decided to go there another time. My co-author Christian Dräger will certainly be pleased when I bring him photos from Paris back to Lübeck next week 😀 Right now, the podcast interview with entrepreneur Arthur Tiar from savoirdessinerparis.fr is waiting for me in #StudioF, the #HEC Founders Campus.