Every high-intensity work cycle leaves behind “Communication Debt”—the minor frictions and work-arounds that accumulate when we prioritize output over alignment. This three-minute protocol is designed to help your team name what shifted during your most recent peak period and begin the process of a deliberate reset.
Select Your Facilitation Mode to Begin
🖥
Projection Mode
Display on screen. Your team reads each question together as you guide the conversation.
🎙
Facilitator Mode
Viewed on your personal device; you read each question aloud. Includes private coaching notes visible only to you.
Question 1 of 3Transactional Drift
The Communication Shift
“To what degree did our communication move from ‘collaborative discussion’ to ‘transactional’ during our last high-intensity work cycle?”
1Stayed Collaborative
5
10Purely Transactional
5
Some transactional drift — the team shifted mode but kept its footing.
Facilitator Note — Private
If they score this low, ask: “Did we actually stay collaborative, or did we just get so busy we stopped noticing the silence?”
Question 2 of 3Protocol Erosion
The Shortcut Audit
“To what extent have ‘survival mode’ shortcuts (e.g., skipping debriefs, moving to email-only) now become our default way of operating?”
1Reverted to Standard
5
10Shortcuts Are the Norm
5
Some shortcuts remain — not yet normalized, but worth watching.
Facilitator Note — Private
Listen for “shadow processes”—the things people do because they don’t trust the formal system to work fast enough anymore.
Question 3 of 3Relational Fatigue
The Energy Drain
“How much have differences in work-styles—rather than actual workload—impacted your team’s collective energy?”
1Zero Impact
5
10Friction Is the Primary Drain
5
Moderate relational friction — personality differences creating some drag.
Facilitator Note — Private
Watch for nodding heads. This is where Communication Debt feels personal. Remind them: personality orientations are not flaws—they are just tools that get blunt under pressure.
Almost There
Generate Your Team’s Pulse Report
Enter your details below to generate your personalized Communication Debt report — a clean, printable record of today’s session you can share with leadership or use as a baseline heading into your next quarter.
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Generating your Pulse Report…
Communication Debt Index
Debt Level
What your team surfaced today
Q1 — Communication Shift (Transactional Drift)
Q2 — Shortcut Audit (Protocol Erosion)
Q3 — Energy Drain (Relational Fatigue)
Ready to go deeper?
ARC’s half-day workshop transforms these insights into a permanent framework for how your team communicates and retains its best people. Most teams leave with a level of clarity they haven’t experienced in months.
