Reflexive Teams Perform Better: Why Thinking About How You Work Matters

Team Science – With a Twist

At TeamPath, we like our advice backed by evidence. But let’s be honest—academic research on teams can be a bit dry. So we’ve asked AI to turn top team science papers into podcast-style conversations.

The result? Something like John and Gail from Pitch Perfect—if they swapped a cappella commentary for team dynamics. John’s blunt and occasionally inappropriate. Gail’s sharp and slightly over it. Together, they break down the science so you don’t have to. It’s research, with a little banter.

Disclaimer: These episodes are AI-generated. While we aim for accuracy, the bots may occasionally go rogue.

Based on: “Reflexivity in Teams: A Review and New Perspectives” by Konradt, Otte, Schippers, & Steenfatt (2015)

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Team reflexivity — the act of teams regularly reflecting on their goals, strategies, and processes — is a proven pathway to higher performance, especially in complex and changing environments. But not all reflection is created equal. This paper reframes how we think about team reflexivity, arguing that the depth, quality, and timing of team reflection can be the difference between innovative momentum and going in circles.

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Key Findings: What the Research Says About Reflexivity and Performance

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The paper brings together over a decade of team research and presents compelling evidence for how and when reflection improves team outcomes:

• Gurtner et al. (2007): Teams that participated in structured reflection between tasks implemented more effective strategies and outperformed control groups.
• Konradt et al. (2015): Found that reflection improved team performance via increased adaptation and alignment.
• Van Ginkel et al. (2009): Reflection enhanced shared task models, improving decision quality.
• Schippers et al. (2013): Teams that started with lower performance showed greater improvements when they engaged in reflection.
• Schippers et al. (2015): Reflexivity was especially beneficial for innovation in high-pressure environments.
• Tjosvold et al. (2004): In Chinese work teams, reflection paired with goal interdependence significantly boosted innovation.

These studies support the idea that reflection isn’t just about talking — it leads to clearer strategies, stronger coordination, and better outcomes when it prompts real adaptation.

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Current Thinking: From Static Checklists to Dynamic Team Habits

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This paper marks a shift in how team scientists think about improvement. Reflexivity is no longer seen as a static trait — it's now understood as a dynamic, context-sensitive behavior.

• Researchers now examine how habitual reflexivity develops through team rituals and collaboration routines.
• Psychological safety is increasingly seen as a prerequisite for effective reflection, allowing teams to talk openly about what’s not working.
• Teams are encouraged to focus on when they reflect (transition phases are optimal) and how deeply (quality over quantity).

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Why This is Interesting for TeamPath: Building Practical Reflection Habits

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For teams interested in continuous improvement and practical team building, this research offers clear and actionable insights:

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1. Time It Right

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Reflection is most effective during natural breaks between projects or sprints. Encourage teams to adopt regular “pause and reflect” sessions after key milestones.

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2. Go for Depth, Not Just Frequency

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Superficial check-ins won't cut it. Reflection needs to go beyond "what went well" to tackle "why did this work?", "what patterns are we seeing?", and "what could we change?"

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3. Align Around Shared Understanding

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Use visual aids, collaborative docs, or retrospectives to clarify assumptions. Effective teams align not just on goals, but on how to get there and who is doing what.

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4. Feedback as a Trigger

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Negative feedback isn’t a threat — it’s an opportunity. Create psychologically safe spaces where teams can look at poor results as signals for needed change.

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5. Small, Repeated Actions > Big Overhauls

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The most powerful team improvement ideas come from embedding reflection into daily behaviors. Short, guided reflection sessions can be as effective as formal training.

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Final Thought

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Reflexivity isn’t about stopping the work; it’s about making the work smarter. This paper adds strong academic weight to what many team leads have sensed: that high-performing teams make time to think, and then act on what they learn. By weaving reflection into the rhythm of teamwork, we can create more aligned, innovative, and resilient teams.

This podcast includes content generated with the help of artificial intelligence. While we've done our best to guide and review the conversation, there may be occasional errors or inaccuracies. Please listen with that in mind and always double-check any critical information. Thanks for your understanding!