- Communication gets murky. People talk around each other instead of to each other and the true intention is lost.
- Conflict is avoided. Instead of hashing things out, the team chooses the “let’s just not deal with it” strategy. It feels easier in the moment, but the tension always leaks out somewhere.
- Feedback falls flat. Either no one’s giving it, or it’s coming across so blunt it sends people straight to the job boards.
- Personality quirks rub. Strong opinions, silent simmerers, and the jokesters who never quite read the room—and they’re all supposed to work together.
- Change shakes things up. A new boss, new process, or new direction can stir up anxiety and unspoken resistance.
- Trust gaps appear. People hesitate to speak up, so ideas get held back and frustrations get stored up.
- Team fatigue sets in. Everyone’s tired of the same meetings, the same drama, the same unresolved stuff looping like Groundhog’s Day.
These aren’t signs your team is broken—they’re signs your team is human. And with a little tuning up, those rough patches can turn into opportunities for stronger trust, clearer conversations, and smoother collaboration.
Most teams don’t fall apart in dramatic fashion. They just hit a few rough patches that make work feel harder than it needs to be.
The challenge
“Working with Susan Giacobazzi was an amazing experience for my entire team. Not only did she take the time to meet with us individually to go over our strengths and how to use these to our advantage, but she also analyzed our team dynamic and how our individual personalities would tie in well together, and where conflict may arise.”
Real experiences
The Work Well Co Approach
Not your typical team training
Here’s how it works (and what it feels like along the way):
Start with leadership
I sit down with the people steering the ship to hear what’s working, what’s not, and what they want more of.
Get the full picture
Every team member takes the CliftonStrengths assessment, and I meet 1:1 with each person. This is where I hear their perspective on work and help them see their natural strengths in action.
Bring the team together
We use CliftonStrengths as the lens to talk about the real stuff: communication patterns, the unspoken dynamics (yes, including the side-eye), and the conversations the team’s been avoiding.
Follow up with leadership
We debrief what surfaced, what shifted, and what still needs attention.
Custom fit
From there, the path can branch—sometimes into leadership coaching, sometimes into targeted 1:1 or small group work. Some organizations engage with me for ongoing work with their team on a monthly basis. I use a mix of collaboration with leadership plus my intuition and experience to decide what will move the needle for your team.
What You’ll Walk Away With
- Clearer, more honest conversations.
- Tools to encourage beautiful, healthy collaboration every day.
- Practical ways to give and receive feedback that makes an impact.
- A stronger sense of trust and respect (the kind you can feel in the room).
- A reset on old dynamics that were keeping the team stuck.
- Confidence that when tension pops up again (and it will), you’ll know what to do about it.
After this work, your team won’t magically turn into a group of flawless communicators who love every meeting. (Nope. Still messy humans.) But you will walk away with:
I work with organizations across The Lake Tahoe Basin and Northern Nevada who know their people are their greatest asset—and also their greatest challenge. From ski resorts to startups, nonprofits to city teams, the work may look different, but the goal is the same: stronger conversations, healthier culture, and growth you can feel on Monday morning.
Tahoe & Reno Teams
Local Expertise
frequently asked questions
Absolutely. Small teams have their own challenges (everybody wearing sooo many hats) which makes me love this work, too.
Learn More About CliftonStrengths!
