In today’s fast-paced corporate world, leaders often turn to team-building exercises to address dysfunction. Whether through off-site retreats, trust-building activities, or “fun” workshops, the hope is that these events will ignite camaraderie and boost morale. However, what many fail to realize is that these quick fixes rarely touch the true root of the problem. The issue often isn’t the people on the team, it’s the system they’re trapped in.
This is where Aliki Myrianidi, a renowned Accredited Psychotherapist, Executive Coach, and recently awarded Best Anxiety and Stress Management Expert in the United Kingdom of 2025, steps in. Aliki has built a reputation for challenging the conventional approach to team-building. She advocates that true team dysfunction rarely lies in individual relationships alone, but in the systems, habits, and structures that underlie team dynamics.
“I don’t run fluffy bonding activities. I dig deep into what’s really going on beneath the surface,” says Aliki. “Most team-building workshops focus on trust exercises or morale boosts, but they don’t address the systemic issues causing dysfunction in the first place.”
The Hidden Problem: It’s Not the Team, It’s the System
When companies invest in team-building exercises, they often ignore the true underlying causes of dysfunction. The problem isn’t the personalities or interpersonal dynamics within the team, it’s the structure, roles, and systems they operate within. As Aliki puts it, “Team dysfunction is rarely about relationships alone. It’s about unclear roles, communication breakdowns, unaddressed tensions, and a system that inadvertently creates friction.”
Aliki’s approach focuses on uncovering these systemic issues. She collaborates with leaders to identify key factors contributing to dysfunction, such as vague responsibilities, decision-making bottlenecks, and a lack of alignment across teams. By addressing these deep-rooted causes, Aliki helps teams shift from groupthink to practical solutions.
A Different Approach: Mapping Internal Dynamics
Unlike typical team-building exercises, Aliki’s method involves carefully structured conversations. She begins her process by conducting individual, confidential interviews with each team member. This allows her to gather real, unfiltered data on the team’s internal dynamics. The goal is to uncover the truth behind the problems, no assumptions, no generalized solutions, just a clear view of how the team truly operates.
“Most of the time, the problems aren’t about personal conflicts, they’re about roles and structures,” Aliki explains. “When you ask the right questions, such as, ‘Who’s doing what, and why isn’t it working?’ or ‘What decisions keep stalling, and what’s the real cost?’ you begin to see patterns that no team-building exercise could reveal.”
These one-on-one conversations provide Aliki with valuable insights into the psychological mindsets of each team member, as well as the practical roadblocks preventing effective collaboration. Armed with this data, Aliki can pinpoint specific areas that require intervention, crafting tailored solutions that address both the psychological and practical aspects of team dynamics.
Facilitating Change: From Insight to Action
Once the key issues are identified, Aliki leads the team through a series of interventions designed not just to increase morale but to facilitate lasting behavioral change. These sessions are about more than just venting emotional frustrations, they are designed to tackle real obstacles head-on.
“Instead of offering a one-size-fits-all workshop, I create a tailored, psychologically informed intervention,” she says. “This isn’t about making people feel better for a moment; it’s about creating sustainable improvements that will continue long after the session is over.”
By connecting the psychological and the practical, Aliki ensures that the changes she facilitates don’t just look good on paper, they work in real life. For example, Aliki might help a team explore deeper questions like: Why do certain decisions continue to stall? What shifts need to happen in how meetings are run, challenges are addressed, and goals are executed? These questions lead to actionable plans that help teams break through longstanding barriers.
The Power of Tailored, Psychology-Informed Interventions
Aliki’s approach stands out because of her deep and precise focus on addressing systemic issues. While many team-building strategies focus on morale or bonding, Aliki’s methodology seeks to correct the real causes of dysfunction. She doesn’t just want teams to feel better, she wants them to function better.
“The goal isn’t just to feel better; it’s to function better,” Aliki says. “Teams need a psychologically informed approach to understand the real issues at play. By addressing these issues systematically, you create a team that works not just in theory, but in practice.”
Her ability to tailor interventions based on both psychological insights and business strategies allows her to craft solutions that are actionable, meaningful, and sustainable. This is a far cry from traditional team-building events that offer temporary fixes but don’t result in long-term change.
Recognizing Excellence: Aliki Myrianidi’s Recent Award
Aliki’s innovative and impactful work in the field of stress and anxiety management has recently been recognized with an exceptional honor. Aliki was named the Best Anxiety and Stress Management Expert in the United Kingdom of 2025 by the prestigious Evergreen Awards. This award is a testament to her exceptional work in blending emotional resilience with leadership clarity.
Through her consultancy, ThriveMind Consultancy, Aliki has gained widespread respect for her ability to help individuals and teams navigate stress, anxiety, and decision fatigue, offering them clarity and mental fortitude. Whether working with leaders facing high-pressure challenges or offering tailored corporate wellbeing programs, Aliki’s approach transcends traditional methods.
The Real Work Starts After the Workshop
Next time you consider team-building exercises, ask yourself: Are they solving the problem or merely offering a temporary fix? If your team continues to face challenges whether it’s unclear roles, communication breakdowns, or stagnation in decision-making then it may be time to address the real issue: the system they’re operating within.
Aliki Myrianidi’s award-winning approach offers leaders a comprehensive, data-driven way to identify and resolve systemic issues. By shifting focus from superficial solutions to deep-rooted, systemic change, Aliki helps teams become more aligned, more effective, and ultimately more successful.
If you’re ready to move beyond traditional team-building exercises and address the systemic issues that are holding your team back, visit www.alikimyrianidi.com to learn more about Aliki’s consultancy services and how they can help your team thrive.
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