For faculties and their scientific and support staff

Effective Collaboration: the Triangle Tuning Programme

Together with a renowned university faculty, we developed the Triangle Tuning Programme: A faculty-broad programme to improve social safety and boost collaboration within research groups, PhD trajectories and among all other staff professionals.

“Great science requires great communication.” In a high-quality scientific environment, the focus is naturally on the content of research. But this will only succeed sustainably if attention is also paid to the relational side of scientific collaboration. Without an open and supportive work environment, that collaboration can become difficult and disappointing. The TTP gives tools to improve cooperation; the central question is always: “How can we strengthen each other?”

Within scientific collaboration, people are often very diverse — in culture of origin, but certainly also in personality. This is both an opportunity and a challenge: What someone needs to flourish and perform is often a black box, not only for colleagues but also for yourself. The Birkman method opens that black box and also provides a shared language to strengthen cooperation.

How does the Triangle Tuning Programme work?

Step A

Online
kick-off (1 hour)

You will join a group with the same role and will be introduced to the program and the Birkman method: a validated instrument that provides insight into your interests, strengths, needs and possible stress behaviour.

Step B

Knowing Myself,
Connecting to Others (1 day)

You will learn to interpret your Birkman report: your interests, strengths, needs, and your stress behaviours. You recognize your own biases and prepare for a 1-on-1 Birkman conversation with a colleague or supervisor.

Step C

Follow up &
Practice with Actors (half-day)

You practice alternative behaviour in recognisable, sometimes challenging scenarios, together with professional training actors. Learning by doing and observing provides insight into what works and why.

Step D

Practical Birkman Applications (2.5 hours)

You will learn to deep-read a Birkman profile and use more specific reports. You also gain insight into academic population averages, so that you can put your own scores in perspective.

Step E

Dealing
with dilemmas (half-day)

The participants come together in mixed groups (eg. PhD candidates and supervisors). Two actors simulate challenging conversations; the group discusses the cases and ‘directs’ the actors together towards more effective behaviour.

Why we use the Birkman Method

The Birkman Method was developed in 1951 by psychologist Dr. Roger W. Birkman, who discovered how strongly individual differences in perception and behavior influence cooperation within a team. Since then, the method has been continuously developed and researched.

Independent test-retest studies show high reliability over time, and the predictive value for working relationships and collaboration effectiveness has been confirmed in multiple studies — including across cultures. For the TTP, this means: participants work with an instrument that is scientifically substantiated.

70+ years of research and further development since 1951
8,000+ organizations worldwide use the method
Millions of respondents in the underlying database
Scientifically substantiated and immediately applicable in practice.
Participants rate the TTP with an average of 8/10 — in particular, the personal conversations, the behavioural exercises and the Birkman report as a shared language are highly appreciated.
Strong focus on translating insights to the workplace, supported by a workbook.
Sustainable behavioural change through active involvement of supervisors and managers.

What faculties and participants say

As Director of the Graduate School of Aerospace Engineering at Delft University of Technology, I consider it essential that PhD candidates and academic supervisors develop not only strong scientific and technical expertise, but also the interpersonal skills required for effective collaboration and supervision. In science and engineering environments, these competencies are often overlooked despite their critical importance. To address this need, we engaged Meerkat to design a program tailored specifically to our PhD candidates and supervisors. The Triangle Tuning Program (TTP) provided practical tools, valuable insights, and a shared framework that significantly improved communication and working relationships within our academic community. The feedback from participants has been overwhelmingly positive.

Prof. dr. ir. Piero Colonna di Paliano, Full Professor & Director of the Graduate School, Aerospace Engineering, TU Delft

The Triangle Tuning Program is experienced as very valuable within the Faculty of Aerospace Engineering. The impact is especially noticeable in the personal conversations between employees, where more depth and understanding is created — a stronger foundation for connection and effective collaboration. A valuable investment in both personal and professional development.

Willem Eleveld, HR, Faculty of Aerospace Engineering, TU Delft

TTP recognized with the HBO Innovation Award

In 2024, Maartje van Spijker conducted research into the effectiveness of the TTP, as part of her Learning & Development in Organisations study at HAN. Her recommendations — which have now been implemented — were aimed at strengthening the translation into daily practice. She won the HBO Innovation Award for People, Work and Organisation; the jury described the TTP as a professional product with an impact on a socially relevant theme.