Day #23: Teamwork that Works
Perfect Practice

Welcome to Day 23 of the 30-Day Say It Skillfully Challenge! Today's challenge focuses on one of the most common (and costly) breakdowns in teamwork: people working hard, but not together. Collaboration doesn't fail because people don't care but because alignment is assumed rather than created, especially when things move fast.

When alignment is missing, teams often mistake activity for progress. Everyone is busy yet energy is fragmented, decisions feel slow, and frustration quietly builds beneath the surface. 

Today's Challenge Scenario: 

You're part of a team moving quickly on a high-profile project. Everyone seems engaged and well-intentioned, but you start noticing subtle disconnects. There are different assumptions about priorities, mixed interpretations of success, and parallel efforts that don't quite line up. No one has raised it explicitly, and nothing yet has "blown up," but you sense inefficiency and future friction brewing—not good.

What do you do?  

While it's tempting to power through and hope things will sort themselves out, or attempt to fix things solo, try pausing the work to align the people. This could look like: "I've noticed we may not all be on the same page about some key items. To ensure no one is spinning their wheels, can we revisit what success looks like for us?" or "What does each of us see as the top priority right now?"

Why this works: Alignment prevents rework, confusion, and unspoken frustration. When someone names the need for shared understanding, collaboration becomes intentional rather than accidental. You help the team move forward together, not just faster.

Cheering for you to make the most of this 30-day challenge—whether you're recommitting to a resolution, trying something new, or simply choosing to turn over a fresh leaf this year. One small step today can change how you show up all year long. You've got this!