What are some indications your team is dysfunctional?
Chances are, if you’ve served on very many teams, you’ve served on a dysfunctional one. There are no perfect teams. And all teams are all dysfunctional during some seasons. For example, I’ve written about times, such as periods of fast growth or change that interrupt the health of every team.
In case you’re wondering, my definition of a dysfunctional team, in simple terms, is one which cannot operate at peak efficiency and performance, because it is impacted by too many negative characteristics. There’s more going wrong than right more days than not.
In my experience, there are commonalities of dysfunction. If you have been on dysfunctional teams before you’ve probably seen one or more of the common traits.
See if any of these seem familiar.
7 Indications of a Dysfunctional Team
Team Members Talk About Each Other More Than to Each Other.
The atmosphere is passive aggressive. Problems are never really addressed, because conflict is avoided. The real problems are continually ignored or excused.
Mediocrity Is Celebrated.
Everything may even be labeled “amazing.” Nothing ever really develops or improves because no one has or inspires a vision bigger than what the team is currently experiencing.
It’s Never ‘Our’ Fault.
It’s the completion or the culture or the times in which we live. No one takes responsibility. And everyone passes blame. Will the real leader please stand up?
Communication Usually Brings More Tension Than Progress.
There may be lots of information, but it’s not packaged in a way which brings clarity. No one knows or recognizes a win.
The Mention of Change Makes Everyone Nervous.
Either change is rare, or it’s been instituted wrong in the past. Any real progress must be forced or controlled.
