On August 12, 2026, IPMI hosted a Frontline Fundamental session titled Stronger Together: Building Solid, Supportive, and Successful Teams.

 

Presenter:

Vanessa Cummings, M.Div., PTMP, CEO, Ms. V. Consulting, LLC.

Summary:

This Frontline Fundamentals session, “Stronger Together: Building Solid, Supportive, and Successful Teams,” was led by Vanessa Cummings (Ms. V), a parking and mobility consultant with more than 32 years of experience. Participants explored four key work styles, task-oriented, time-oriented, risk-taker, and follower, and learned how understanding these styles can improve teamwork, communication, and task delegation. Ms. V also shared practical strategies for collaborating with and managing different personality types across organizational settings.

Key Takeaways from the Frontline Fundamental Session:

Building Stronger Teams Training
Ms. V facilitated a training session focused on helping participants understand their roles and work styles within the organization. Through discussion and polling, participants explored task-oriented and time-oriented approaches and shared perspectives on how different work styles can work together effectively during organizational changes.

Workplace Personality Types Management
Ms. V led a discussion on time-oriented, risk-taking, and follower personality types, providing guidance on how to support and communicate with each. Participants shared experiences that reinforced the importance of clear processes, flexibility, and understanding individual needs while balancing creativity and structure within teams.

Team Work Style Strategies
Ms. V discussed practical strategies for working with different personality types, emphasizing clear direction, trust-building, and support when team members take risks. She also shared examples of assigning responsibilities based on work styles and led a poll that highlighted the variety of styles represented within the group.

Team Collaboration and Closing Procedures
Ms. V explained how staffing schedules can be adjusted to support closing procedures while ensuring employees leave on time. She also outlined key practices for strengthening collaboration, including encouraging participation, listening actively, respecting different perspectives, and building trust across teams.

Fostering Effective Team Collaboration
Ms. V emphasized the importance of intentional engagement, respect, and solution-focused thinking in fostering collaboration. She encouraged leaders to set clear goals, involve the right people, and leverage individual strengths to improve team morale, productivity, and overall effectiveness.

Access the full Frontline Fundamental in IPMI’s On-Demand Education Library.
Free for Members
$35 for Non-Members

Interested in future IPMI Frontline Fundamentals? Click here to view upcoming programs.