5 Warning Signs Your Team is Headed for Dysfunction

Leaders: Ever feel like your team has hit a rough patch but can't quite put your finger on why??

Let me paint a picture for you:?

1. Sidebar conversations have become the norm and engagement is dropping → a sign that your team's communication is fracturing.
2. Team members are disengaging, perhaps even subconsciously → a signal of deeper issues within the team dynamic.
3. Blame has become a common defense and cliques are forming → an indicator that trust is eroding.
4. A few team members are carrying the weight for many → a sign of misaligned team roles, which is more than unfair, it's unsustainable.
5. Difficulty moving on from current or previous issues → a signal of a team that's stuck and unable to innovate or progress.

Do any of these warning signs sound familiar? These are all indicators that your team might be headed toward dysfunction.

Fear not! I've got just the solution to steer your team back on track.?

Let me introduce you to the 6 Types of Working Genius—it's like a GPS for your team's development. It's an 80% productivity, 20% personality assessment created by Patrick Lencioni, author of 5 Dysfunctions of a Team. It gets to the heart of how each team member fits in the six stages of how work gets done on a team. (Spoiler alert: high performing teams typically have members that excel in each of the stages).

Here's how it works:

Step 1. Individual assessment to unveil unique strengths based on work enjoyment (only takes about 10 minutes).

Step 2. Creation of a team map aligning members with the six work stages for comprehensive insights.

Step 3. Facilitation of a dynamic team meeting to explore the team's collective zones of genius and frustration for better alignment.

What follows is clarity on how to realign roles and responsibilities for maximum productivity and harmony. The tool also gives the team a common language to ask for help and partner with each other. But best of all, it helps reduce the guilt and shame that often accompany how individuals feel about the work they do on a team. The result is a boost to individual fulfillment and enhancement of their collective productivity.

More specifically, here's how the Working Genius Assessment can help:

• Fosters Self-Awareness: Team members gain insight into their strengths, competencies,?and areas that may cause frustration.
• Encourages Role Alignment: With a clear understanding of each person's geniuses, we can ensure that everyone is in the right role, doing work that energizes them.
• Promotes Balanced Teamwork: By mapping out the team's collective geniuses, we can identify gaps and overlaps, ensuring a well-rounded team approach.
• Drives Engagement: When people work within their areas of genius, their engagement and contribution to the team soar.

If you're noticing any of the 5 warning signs in your team, it's time to take action. As a certified facilitator, I can guide your team through the Working Genius Assessment, helping each member to discover their unique strengths and how we can leverage them for the team's success. Let's turn potential dysfunction into dynamic collaboration.?Reach out to me on LinkedIn to learn more.

Julie Edge Ph.D., is chief strategist and founder of Inside Edge Solutions LLC, a boutique strategy coaching and consulting firm serving business owners seeking less chaos and complication in their business and more thriving in their life—both personally and professionally. Connect with Julie on LinkedIn at @drjulieedge