Align
Align is built on findings from some of the most respected research on high-performing teams.
First, Google's Project Aristotle studied hundreds of teams and found that team norms matter more than who's on the team. The most successful teams shared five things: Psychological Safety, Dependability, Structure and Clarity, Meaning, and Impact. Align's Team Foundations theme assesses all five.
Second, Harvard professor Amy Edmondson's research formed the basis of the aspects of the tool pertaining to psychological safety; it's not about being comfortable — it's about being able to speak up, admit mistakes, and give honest feedback. Several Align statements are designed specifically to surface and improve psychological safety on your team.
Third, Align also draws on Patrick Lencioni's Five Dysfunctions of a Team, which identifies the root causes of team dysfunction — things like absence of trust and avoidance of accountability — and finally McKinsey's research with over 5,000 executives on what makes teams perform at their best.
The bottom line: Align isn't just a survey. It's a structured way to have a team conversation that actually moves things forward.
Perspective
Perspective is built on the Big Five personality assessment methodology as well as 16Personalities — two of the most widely studied frameworks in personality psychology.
In particular, the Perspective assessment's reports are not designed to classify people in boxes, they're meant to elicit natural tendencies and inclinations — think spectrums of preferences rather than hard-and-fast dichotomies.
It's to give your team a common language for talking about how you each think and work — so differences feel less like friction and more like something you can actually use. There are three ways to use it:
My Perspective — a personal working style profile based on a short questionnaire. Share it with your team so they understand how you like to work and engage.
Pair Perspective — compare your profile one-on-one with a teammate to spot friction points and find better ways to work together.
Team Perspective — see how all your working styles show up across the team, where you have blind spots, and where your strengths complement each other.
The questionnaire is just the starting point. The real value is in collaboration it catalyzes and the team conversation it can open up.
Habit
Habit is grounded in self- and team-regulation research showing that clearly stating, publicly sharing, and then quantifiably tracking and monitoring a goal makes you more likely to stick to it. It's designed to keep the momentum going after an Align or Perspective session.
It also draws on research into intrinsic motivation — the kind that comes from genuine ownership. When you choose your goals, you're more likely to follow through.
Have questions about the methodology? Reach out to us at coaching@valence.co or use the blue chat button on the bottom right corner of your screen.
Happy teaming!