When Teams Unite Under Pressure
Challenging Moments Pull Us Closer Together
There are some experiences that bring out the essence of teamwork more powerfully than anything else. One of those experiences is the "emergency" issue that needs to be solved immediately.
I use "emergency" in quotations because in most businesses, the issue at hand is only a business emergency, not life or death. But the dynamic remains the same—it's an all-hands-on-deck scenario that transforms how people work together.
The Magic of Crisis Collaboration
I've been through many of these "emergencies" throughout my career, and something remarkable happens: people generally put aside their egos, their competitive nature, and come together with singular focus to solve whatever issue is at hand.
I vividly remember one such emergency from a previous role. A system issue had impacted a critical data field, potentially affecting thousands of customers. The only workaround was manually moving data between spreadsheets using specific formulas, with limitations on how many records could be processed in a single sheet or upload.
We needed about two dozen people to drop everything, join our impromptu war room, and tackle some intense manual data entry. I'm simplifying the technical complexities here, but they're not what matters in this story.
What matters is how everyone involved completely dropped whatever work they were doing to pitch in. People offered extra help if they had skills that might be useful. And perhaps most surprisingly, the experience actually became... enjoyable!
That's bonkers, right?
Why Crisis Teamwork Is So Powerful
These scenarios never cease to amaze me because of how deeply connected they make us feel. They tap into our identity as valued members of our work community, and when that community faces a crisis, people respond instinctively. This might mean staying late, contributing extra effort, or stepping outside comfort zones to help the team succeed.
This emergency environment creates several unique conditions:
Clarity of purpose: Everyone understands exactly what needs to be done
Flattened hierarchy: Good ideas matter more than job titles
Real-time collaboration: Instant feedback and problem-solving
Visible progress: Team members can see the impact of their contributions
Shared struggle: Going through challenges together builds lasting bonds
The Critical Balance: Emergency vs. Firefighting
There's a crucial distinction to understand, however. These "emergency" scenarios can't happen every week, because that shifts from emergency response to constant firefighting. When crisis becomes the status quo, the positive team dynamics eventually erode, replaced by burnout and frustration.
The most effective organizations know how to:
Leverage this team dynamic when truly needed
Document and learn from each emergency
Implement systems to prevent similar crises
Return to sustainable work patterns afterward
Building Team Unity Without the Emergencies
The question becomes: How can we create that same sense of teamwork, purpose, and collaboration without requiring actual emergencies?
Some approaches I've seen work include:
Focused sprint projects with clear, compelling goals
Cross-functional innovation teams with temporary missions
Regular team challenges that unite people around solving interesting problems
Creating physical and virtual spaces designed for collaborative problem-solving
The real lesson here is that the team bonds that pull us together are present, and when needed, can be called upon. This element of human spirit in teams is inspirational and shows us what we are capable of when it matters.
Looking to build more effective teams that can collaborate with this same unity and purpose—without the actual emergency? Learn more about our team building workshops and how LEGO® Serious Play® methodology can help your team develop these skills proactively.
We have facilitators in New York City, San Francisco, Austin, Tampa Bay, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Tampa Bay, San Diego, and more! Contact us for session options.
