Facing Team Dysfunction

[Approximate Read Time: 5 Minutes]

Yesterday, I taught on?The Five Dysfunctions of a Team?from a book of the same name by Patrick M. Lencioni. The author offers powerful principles to overcome the five behavioral tendencies that go to the heart of why teams struggle. His methods, when applied, can ultimately transform the culture of a business, organization, or even a family.?

So, what are these five dysfunctions that keep teams from functioning healthily? I am glad you asked. As they say, a picture is worth a thousand words, so take some time to study the image below before reading the rest of the article.

1. Absence of Trust.?When a team lacks trust, weaknesses, and mistakes are concealed, people are hesitant to ask for help, are quick to jump to conclusions regarding the intentions of other team members, and tend to hold grudges. Overcome lack of trust?by encouraging team members to become more open to building solid relationships with each other.
2. Fear of Conflict?often exists?because people are more worried about office politics and the concerns of minimizing personal risk than resolving conflict, problem-solving, and working through controversial topics. Overcome fear of conflict?by promoting constructive disagreements so team members can work through the conflicts and solve the challenges.
3. Lack of Commitment?stems from a fear of failure and leads to second-guessing and difficulty in decision-making. Clarity and team member buy-in, along with allowing disagreement in order to lead to true and honest commitment, is the key to overcoming this issue. Overcome lack of commitment?by bringing clarity to the situation and gaining team members' buy-in. Allow team members to work through their disagreements so they can honestly commit themselves.
4. Avoidance of Accountability?is a result of second-guessing and a lack of commitment to a high level of performance, which leads to mediocre work dissatisfaction among team members. Overcome lack of accountability?by allowing team peer pressure, healthy competition, and goal setting to raise the standards and instill in each team member the desire to pursue excellence.
5. Inattention to Results?indicates a team is lacking focus and clear objectives. Team members who are distracted, focused on themselves and failing to grow. Overcome lack of inattention?by focusing on clear outcomes and objectives as a team. Promote an environment conducive to growth.

Take a moment to think about how these five dysfunctions may be impacting your life right now. Are you trustworthy and trusting? Are you afraid to have difficult conversations? Do you lack commitment? Are you running from accountability? These are the things we all need to re-evaluate in our lives every day.?

We all have times when we must confront dysfunction somewhere in our sphere of influence, whether at home, school, or work, and it can be a tricky time. We all know how easy it is to walk away in fear rather than to face the challenges with confidence. But we can also know the good that comes from confronting dysfunction head-on.

Remember, you get to choose how you deal with fear. It’s either “Forget Everything And Run” or “Face Everything And Rise.”

There is no lack of dysfunction out there, so what are we going to do to overcome it? if you’re ready to face the dysfunction of your team, I am happy to help.?Book a clarity call today!?

BE INTENTIONAL!

Ryan J. Botner? Speaker/Coach/Trainer Cornerstone Speaking and Coaching