Design thinking is hailed as a cornerstone for innovation. It has teamwork as a basis, yet we know little of how the design thinking team operates and collaborates. In this study, we investigate both quantitatively and qualitatively 51 design thinking teams as they work on an innovation project. We seek especially how they communicate and collaborate while working with design thinking tools. Teams are divided in three according to performance. Findings suggest that the highest performing groups utilize the design thinking method more disciplined than the other groups. To achieve this, they employ more authority behaviors and less supportive behaviors than the other groups. This disciplined approach to the method as a process and employed tools (such as brainstorming) in turn enable important team processes such as team reflexivity and psychological safety. Based on these findings, we suggest that a disciplined approach at the team level towards design thinking enhance innovative performance.