The Real Reason Teams Struggle:Understanding Human Behavior

Teams rarely struggle because of strategy, tools, or talent. More often, the real challenge lies beneath the surface—in how people communicate, react, and relate to one another.

On a recent episode of The Germinate Podcast, host Joe Samson sat down with leadership consultant and social intelligence expert Jason Kiesau for a candid conversation about self-awareness, behavior, and what truly drives performance at work and in life.

What emerged wasn’t just a leadership discussion, but a deeper look at why teams break down—and how leaders can begin to fix it.

From Early Struggles to Behavioral Insight

Jason shares his personal journey openly, starting with a volatile home environment and early academic and professional challenges. Rather than offering a polished success story, he reflects on the confusion and setbacks that shaped his curiosity about human behavior.

Those early experiences eventually led Jason to study emotional intelligence, leadership development, and behavioral science. What began as a need to survive and adapt became a purpose-driven career helping others understand themselves—and each other—more clearly.

Why Most Workplace Problems Aren’t Technical

A central theme of the conversation is a simple truth many leaders overlook:

Most workplace problems are behavioral problems, not business problems.

Jason explains that conflict, disengagement, and misalignment often stem from unmet behavioral needs rather than poor intentions. People operate on autopilot more often than they realize, reacting based on stress, habit, and learned patterns instead of conscious choice.

When leaders miss these dynamics, frustration grows, and performance suffers.

Social Intelligence and Communication Breakdowns

Joe and Jason explore the role of social intelligence, the ability to read situations, adapt communication styles, and respond effectively to different personalities.

Jason explains how dominant behavior styles can unintentionally clash, especially when leaders assume others process information the same way they do. Without awareness and adaptability, even well-intentioned leaders can create resistance, confusion, or tension.

Social intelligence isn’t about changing who you are; it’s about meeting people where they are.

Stress, Maslow, and Decision-Making

The conversation also touches on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and how unmet foundational needs, such as safety, belonging, and security, quietly influence workplace behavior.

When people feel stressed, insecure, or undervalued, their ability to collaborate and perform declines. Leaders who ignore these signals often misinterpret symptoms as laziness or lack of commitment, when the root issue is something much deeper.

Understanding this allows leaders to respond with empathy rather than control.

Leadership Begins With Self-Awareness

One of the strongest messages from the episode is that leadership starts internally.

Jason emphasizes that self-awareness is not optional, it’s foundational. Leaders who understand their own triggers, tendencies, and blind spots are better equipped to lead others with clarity and consistency.

Adaptability, emotional regulation, and behavioral awareness are not “soft skills.” They are essential leadership tools in a complex, fast-changing world.

Leading People in a Complex World

As work continues to evolve, the need for human-centered leadership becomes even more critical. Technology may improve efficiency, but it cannot replace trust, connection, or understanding.

This episode is a reminder that leadership isn’t about controlling outcomes; it’s about creating conditions where people can succeed.

Final Thoughts

This conversation on The Germinate Podcast offers a powerful perspective on leadership rooted in lived experience, behavioral insight, and practical wisdom.

When leaders invest in understanding human behavior, starting with their own, they unlock stronger teams, clearer communication, and more sustainable results.

Because at the end of the day, teams don’t struggle because people don’t care.
They struggle when behavior goes unseen and misunderstood.

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