How to Use the Team Grid to Spark Better Conversations at Work

The Team Grid is more than a chart on the wall. It’s a tool that can spark meaningful conversations at work. By showing how each person contributes through their unique CliftonStrengths®, the grid helps teams better understand one another and work together more effectively. When used regularly, the Team Grid becomes a shared language that encourages collaboration and opens doors to new ideas.

Here are five ways to keep your team’s strengths alive using the Team Grid.

Why the Team Grid Is More Than Just a Chart

The Team Grid offers a snapshot of your team’s collective strengths, bringing together the unique talents and abilities of each member in one easy-to-read place. This visual overview helps leaders to quickly spot patterns and recurring themes within the team, such as complementary skills or common areas that might need development.

The grid doesn’t label or box people in. Instead, it supports a positive, collaborative atmosphere by encouraging psychological safety—making it easier to have open, honest conversations. Plus, it can highlight potential blind spots and align a team around shared goals.

How to Introduce the Team Grid to Your Team

Whether you’re introducing the Team Grid for the first time or bringing it back after a workshop, it’s easy to fold into your team’s existing rhythm. The Team Grid is a visual tool that maps out your team’s collective strengths in one clear view. It helps you see how talents line up, where there might be gaps, and how the team naturally shows up day to day.

If you introduce the grid right after a CliftonStrengths® workshop, it helps pull everything together: individual results, group dynamics, and what it all means for how you work as a team. And if it’s been a while since the workshop, a good way to bring it back is during a team meeting or one-on-one. You could say something like, “let’s take another look at our Team Grid and talk about how our strengths are showing up lately.” Keep it simple, share the grid, point out a few things you’ve noticed, and invite others to chime in. Remember, the Team Grid is a flexible tool; adjust how and when you use it based on what fits best for your team’s unique culture and workflow.

Everyday Ways to Use the Grid—From 1:1s to Team Meetings

The Team Grid works best when it becomes part of regular conversations at work. Whether you’re chatting one-on-one or gathering the whole team, the grid helps keep strengths top of mind and guides meaningful discussions. Remember, the grid isn’t about labeling people; it’s a starting point for understanding how each person contributes and grows. Let’s explore simple ways to bring the grid into both kinds of conversations:

Using the Team Grid in 1:1s
In one-on-one meetings, the grid is a great tool to check in on how an individual’s strengths are showing up in their work. These conversations show you’re invested in your team members’ growth and help keep strengths at the forefront.

You can prompt reflection by asking:

• Where do you feel most aligned with the team?
• How do you see your strengths contributing to the team’s success?
• Are there opportunities to lean into your talents more?

Using the Team Grid in Team Meetings
In team meetings, the grid helps highlight patterns and themes across the group. Use it to spark discussions about how the team is working together and where it might need to adjust.

Encourage the team by asking:

• What strengths are missing from this discussion?
• How can we balance Execution and Ideation?
• Are we relying too heavily on one strength domain?

These discussions help build shared understanding and better collaboration.

How to Spot—and Fill—Strength Gaps on Your Team

Every domain brings something valuable. But when one is underrepresented, teams can start to feel off-balance. For example:

• Executing: When Executing talents are less prominent, the team might benefit from more focus on follow-through and meeting deadlines.
• Influencing: If there are fewer Influencing strengths, there may be opportunities to boost how the team shares its work beyond the group.
• Relationship Building: Fewer Relationship Building strengths could mean there’s room to strengthen team morale and connections.
• Strategic Thinking: When Strategic Thinking is less represented, the team might find value in adding more long-term planning and reflection.

Try pairing teammates with complementary strengths to bridge these areas naturally. For instance, someone strong in Strategic Thinking can team up with an Executor to help turn big ideas into action. These partnerships help the team cover all its bases while allowing everyone to play to their strengths.

Out of Sight, Out of Mind: Why Visibility Matters

To keep the Team Grid top of mind, consider printing it out and displaying it in a shared team space where everyone can see it regularly. When the grid is visible, it’s easier to remember and use in daily conversations. Try to make the grid part of your regular activities by including it in check-ins, project kickoff meetings, or planning sessions for new hires and team changes. When it’s easy to reference, the grid becomes a practical tool rather than just a one-time exercise.

It also helps leaders and team members stay aware of the team’s overall balance and communication styles, making it simpler to assign roles, adjust workflows, and collaborate more effectively. The more often you bring strengths into your conversations, the more it supports a team culture focused on growth and working together.

The Takeaway

The Team Grid is a powerful tool, but it only works when it’s actively used. To keep the energy going means regularly checking in and having open conversations around the grid. These ongoing discussions help turn individual strengths into real team momentum that drives collaboration and growth. Ready to keep CliftonStrengths® front and center in your team conversations?