Beyond Band-Aids: A Systemic Look at Team Dysfunction

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?? Focus of the Week: A Systemic Look at Team Dysfunction

Traditional team-building exercises can often feel like applying a Band-Aid to a gaping wound. Teams are not just a collection of individuals; they're intricate interconnected systems. To create thriving teams, we need to look beyond the individuals to dive deeper, examining the systemic challenges that drive team dysfunction.

Interconnected Gears: A Systems Approach

Frameworks like the PERILL Model (Purpose, External Systems, Relationships, Internal Processes, Learning, Leadership) unveil teams as dynamic systems. Imagine each element as a gear in a machine. A weakness in one gear (unclear purpose) creates a cascade effect, impacting others. Unclear goals lead to misaligned efforts, hindering learning and ultimately derailing results.

Feedback Loops: The Amplification Effect

Dysfunction doesn't exist in isolation. Imagine a team with poor communication. This breeds frustration and erodes trust, further hindering communication—a vicious cycle emerges. These feedback loops amplify dysfunction, making it critical to identify and address them early.

Hidden Dynamics: Power, Bias, and Unspoken Rules

Unconscious biases and unspoken hierarchies significantly impact team behaviour. A team member with phenomenal technical expertise might hesitate to voice strategic concerns due to a perceived power imbalance towards a more senior colleague. Leaders need to be attuned to these hidden dynamics and foster a safe space for open dialogue that reduces implicit biases.

Moving Beyond Band-Aid Solutions

Traditional team-building exercises, while helpful, often address symptoms rather than root causes. Here's how to get strategic:

• Systemic Coaching: Engage a coach trained in systemic approaches. They can act as a facilitator, untangling the complex dynamics and identifying underlying patterns contributing to dysfunction.
• Network Mapping: Visually map out team interactions and communication flows. This can reveal hidden power imbalances or information silos, allowing for targeted interventions to improve collaboration and knowledge sharing.
• Data-Driven Interventions: Analyse team communication patterns, project timelines, and employee surveys to pinpoint areas that need improvement. Measure the impact of interventions to ensure they effectively address systemic challenges.

By recognising team dysfunction as a symptom of deeper systemic issues, we move beyond individual blame games and focus on fostering a healthy team ecosystem. This empowers teams to self-organise, adapt to challenges, and ultimately become high-performing units that achieve remarkable results.

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P.S. Testimonial of the Week: “Over our coaching sessions, I was promoted from individual contributor to manager, and now I am in a better situation to apply for another promotion. I would strongly recommend Lily because of the 360 approach she took. Her approach was very specific to my situation and helped me increase my resilience.”

Warm regards,

Lily

Lily Woi - People & Culture Catalyst?

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