Chris Shields says a frank "old school" meeting between players galvanised Linfield's ailing season.
David Healy's squad held clear-the-air talks following painful home defeats to Glentoran and Larne.
The champions had been struggling to build any momentum in the Premiership this season after suffering a hangover from their Europa Conference League play-off defeat to RFS.
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But since losing 4-2 to Larne on October 22 Linfield have gone seven games unbeaten across all competitions, and picked up 13 points from a possible 15 in the league.
The litmus test will come on Tuesday when the Blues renew rivalries with Premiership leaders Larne at Windsor Park.
A victory there and Shields believes the Blues can definitely declare themselves back on track.
"It is probably a good time to get Larne. Probably the two in-form teams at the minute," he told BBC Sportsound.
"They maybe got us at a good time last time, but we will 100 per cent be out to rectify that defeat.
"They were worthy winners on the day. We couldn't have any complaints. But it is like chalk and cheese and it is time for us to stand up.
"We had that meeting like David (Healy) said, and it was a good honest meeting between players. It was old school, like 'get the finger out, we're going into no man's land here'.
"There is no point coming in and making excuses for each other, because you will get nowhere with that.
"You stand up and accept your own responsibility, for maybe how poorly you played, and you dust yourself down to get back into form.
"And I think that's what has been the turning point."
Blues boss Healy is under no illusions heading into Tuesday's game, describing Larne as the "standout team at the minute".
He admits last month's defeat at Windsor was evidence of his side being out of form, but believes they will be better equipped to meet the challenge head on this time.
"We try and not get too deflated at times. Everyone else at Linfield does when we lose games, and rightly do considering the success the club has had," he said.
"It is frustration. I get deflated and beat myself up for a few days. I watch the games back to see why we didn't perform. We are humble when we lose and honest when we win, and we are courteous and don't get overboard.
"Whether we are champions at the end of the season, we have to make sure other teams earn it.
He added: "We had a good meeting with the players after the two defeats we had at home. They were our first home defeats in basically two years, which was the end of the world for some.
"We had a strong meeting and got what we wanted out of it.
"The players have responded and reacted, and they have bounced back."
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