Sweating It Out: How Crisis Brings (and Breaks) Team Unity

Unity in Crisis?

A few years ago, I (Lu) was boarding an international flight from Atlanta to Madrid. Picture this: it’s 113° in Atlanta with 100% humidity, the kind of weather that makes you question your life choices. As we packed into the plane like sweaty sardines, we noticed something unusual—besides the fact that we were sticking to our seats. The maintenance team was working feverishly on the thermostat.

Turns out, a connector was broken, and, of course, they didn’t have a spare handy. Because why would they? The crew decided to survey the passengers. We had two options: wait an hour for a new plane with functioning air conditioning or take off immediately, and avoid risking the wrath of a hurricane creeping up from Florida. What should’ve been an easy decision suddenly became a gamble between mild suffocation and being grounded indefinitely.

So naturally, we all voted to stay on the hot plane. Because apparently, when disaster strikes, sanity takes a holiday.

Take note, team leaders: if you really want to bring people together, just create a disaster.

As we took off, passengers optimistically pointed out that it’s cooler at higher elevations. Surely, we’d cool off soon, right?

Well, yes and no. It’s cooler all right... too cool. As we reached cruising altitude, the humidity inside the plane condensed on the walls and ceiling. So much so that, before long, it started raining inside the cabin. Picture it: disgruntled, damp passengers, dodging water droplets like we were inside some weird, leaky sky dome. And of course, as misery set in, a few passengers started arguing with a flight attendant over something completely ridiculous. Unity? Gone with the wind (or in this case, the rain).

And here’s the second lesson for team leaders: once the disaster is over, expect the unity to unravel faster than the in-flight entertainment.

In a crisis, it is not uncommon to witness people rallying together, united by a common cause or shared challenge. This phenomenon reveals the innate human capability for solidarity; however, these bonds often prove to be as fragile as they are fleeting. When the initial urgency subsides, and the dust settles, many retreat into their respective corners, abandoning the unity they briefly shared. Understanding this cycle can provide insights into human behavior and societal dynamics.

Just as a band-aid adheres to the skin for a limited period, providing temporary relief, so too do the connections formed in crises provide a short-lived solution. While necessary, these snap decisions do not address the underlying issues that may have contributed to the crisis in the first place. Thus, despite the fervent rallying cry of unity during emergencies, this emotional bonding tends to be superficial. To achieve lasting change or support systems, more permanent measures and deeper connections must be cultivated beyond the immediacy of crises.

Things to ponder: every leader dreams of team unity. We all know that when people are on the same page, progress comes naturally. The whole “strength in numbers” thing is real. But here’s the twist—sometimes the greatest innovations and successes come from disunity, from people daring to take a stand, challenge the status quo, and go against the crowd. Think about it: heroes of history, revolutionary thinkers—they often disrupted the harmony to push for something better.

So, should your team always be unified? Sure—until they need to break away and innovate. Balance is key. Work together when it matters, but don’t be afraid to stand alone for the big ideas. Just be prepared to dodge a few metaphorical raindrops along the way.

Captain Sparrow, our quirky pilot, tried to cheer us up. As we approached Madrid, he announced we’d landed in a clear, dry, and balmy evening. Then he added, “Remember, folks, the rain in Spain falls mainly... in the plane.”

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