AS DllllCUIT as it is to luilJ a cohosivo toam, it is notcomplicatoJ. ln lact, kooping it simplo is critical,vhothor you run tho oxocutivo stall at a multi-national company, a small Jopartmont vithin alargor organization, or ovon il you aro moroly amomlor ol a toam that nooJs improvomont. ln thatspirit, this soction is JosignoJ to proviJo a cloar,conciso, anJ practical guiJo to using tho livo Dys-lunctions VoJol to improvo your toam. GooJ luck.n tho courso ol my oxporionco vorking vith CEOs anJ thoirtoams, tvo critical truths havo locomo cloar to mo. lirst,gonuino toamvork in most organizations romains as olusivoas it has ovor loon. SoconJ, organizations lail to achiovotoamvork locauso thoy unknovingly lall proy to vo nat-ural lut Jangorous pitlalls, vhich l call tho vo Jyslunc-tions ol a toam.Thoso Jyslunctions can lo mistakonly intorprotoJ asvo Jistinct issuos that can lo aJJrossoJ in isolation ol thoothors. But in roality thoy lorm an intorrolatoJ moJol, mak-ing suscoptilility to ovon ono ol thom potontially lothal lortho succoss ol a toam. A cursory ovorviov ol oach Jys-lunction, anJ tho moJol thoy compriso, shoulJ mako thiscloaror.T|e ||ve |sooct|oos o a Tea1.Tho rst Jyslunction is an abscncc oI trust among toammomlors. Essontially, this stoms lrom thoir unvilling-noss to lo vulnorallo vithin tho group. Toam momlorsvho aro not gonuinoly opon vith ono anothor aloutthoir mistakos anJ voaknossos mako it impossillo toluilJ a lounJation lor trust.2. This lailuro to luilJ trust is Jamaging locauso it sotstho tono lor tho soconJ Jyslunction: Icar oI connIct.Toams that lack trust aro incapallo ol ongaging in un-ltoroJ anJ passionato Jolato ol iJoas. lnstoaJ, thoyrosort to voiloJ Jiscussions anJ guarJoJ commonts.3. A lack ol hoalthy conuict is a prollom locauso it on-suros tho thirJ Jyslunction ol a toam: Iack oI com-|nattentlonto PesultsAvoloance o| AccountabllltyLack o| CommltmentFear o| ConNlctAbsence o| Trust/o Cvev|e. o t|e |ooe|mItmcnt. Without having airoJ thoir opinions in thocourso ol passionato anJ opon Jolato, toam momlorsraroly, il ovor, luy in anJ commit to Jocisions, thoughthoy may loign agroomont Juring mootings.4. Bocauso ol this lack ol roal commitmont anJ luy-in,toam momlors Jovolop an avoIdancc oI account-abIIIty, tho lourth Jyslunction. Without committingto a cloar plan ol action, ovon tho most locusoJ anJJrivon pooplo olton hositato to call thoir poors on ac-tions anJ lohaviors that soom countorproJuctivo to thogooJ ol tho toam.5. lailuro to holJ ono anothor accountallo croatos an on-vironmont vhoro tho lth Jyslunction can thrivo. Inat-tcntIon to rcsuIts occurs vhon toam momlors putthoir inJiviJual nooJs (such as ogo, caroor Jovolop-mont, or rocognition) or ovon tho nooJs ol thoir Jivi-sions alovo tho colloctivo goals ol tho toam.AnJ so, liko a chain vith just ono link lrokon, toam-vork Jotorioratos il ovon a singlo Jyslunction is allovoJto uourishAnothor vay to unJorstanJ this moJol is to tako thoopposito approach-a positivo ono-anJ imagino hovmomlors ol truly cohosivo toams lohavo:1. Thoy trust ono anothor.2. Thoy ongago in unltoroJ conuict arounJ iJoas.T|e ||ve |sooct|oos o a Tea3. Thoy commit to Jocisions anJ plans ol action.4. ThoyholJonoanothoraccountallolorJolivoringagainst thoso plans.5. Thoy locus on tho achiovomont ol colloctivo rosults.ll this sounJs simplo, it`s locauso it is simplo, at loastin thoory. ln practico, hovovor, it is oxtromoly Jilcult lo-causo it roguiros lovols ol Jisciplino anJ porsistonco that lovtoams can mustor.Boloro Jiving into oach ol tho Jyslunctions anJ ox-ploring vays to ovorcomo thom, it might lo holplul to as-soss your toam anJ iJontily vhoro tho opportunitios lorimprovomont lio in your organization.ho guostionnairo on tho lolloving pagos is a straightlorvarJJiagnostic tool lor holping you ovaluato your toam`s sus-coptilility to tho vo Jyslunctions. At tho onJ ol tho guos-tionnairo, on pago 194, thoro is a simplo oxplanation ol hovto talulato tho rosults anJ intorprot tho possillo conclu-sions. ll possillo, havo all momlors ol your toam complototho Jiagnostic anJ roviov tho rosults, Jiscussing Jiscrop-ancios in tho rosponsos anJ iJontilying any cloar implica-tions lor tho toam.T|e ||ve |sooct|oos o a TeaInstructIons: Uso tho scalo lolov to inJicato hov oachstatomont applios to your toam. lt is important to ovaluato tho statomonts honostly anJ vithout ovor-thinking your ansvors.3 - Usually2 - Somotimos1 - Paroly____ 1. Toam momlors aro passionato anJ unguarJoJ inthoir Jiscussion ol issuos.____ 2. Toam momlors call out ono anothor`s Jocion-cios or unproJuctivo lohaviors.____ 3. Toam momlors knov vhat thoir poors aro vork-ing on anJ hov thoy contriluto to tho colloctivogooJ ol tho toam.____ 4. Toam momlors guickly anJ gonuinoly apologizoto ono anothor vhon thoy say or Jo somothinginappropriato or possilly Jamaging to tho toam.____ 5. Toam momlors villingly mako sacricos (such asluJgot, turl, hoaJ count) in thoir Jopartmonts oraroas ol oxportiso lor tho gooJ ol tho toam.____ 6. Toam momlors oponly aJmit thoir voaknossosanJ mistakos.____ . Toam mootings aro compolling, anJ not loring.____ 8. Toam momlors loavo mootings conliJont thatthoir poors aro complotoly committoJ to tho Jo-Tea /ssesseotcisions that voro agrooJ on, ovon il thoro vas ini-tial Jisagroomont.____ 9. Voralo is signicantly alloctoJ ly tho lailuro toachiovo toam goals.____ 10. During toam mootings, tho most important-anJJilcult-issuos aro put on tho tallo to lo ro-solvoJ.____ 11. Toam momlors aro Jooply concornoJ alout thoprospoct ol lotting Jovn thoir poors.____ 12. Toam momlors knov alout ono anothor`s por-sonal livos anJ aro comlortallo Jiscussing thom.____ 13. Toam momlors onJ Jiscussions vith cloar anJspocic rosolutions anJ calls to action.____ 14. Toam momlors challongo ono anothor alout thoirplans anJ approachos.____ 15. Toam momlors aro slov to sook croJit lor thoirovn contrilutions, lut guick to point out thosool othors.DY5FUNCTlON 1: AB5ENCE OF TRU5TTrust lios at tho hoart ol a lunctioning, cohosivo toam. With-out it, toamvork is all lut impossillo.Unlortunatoly, tho vorJ trvst is usoJ-anJ misusoJ-so olton that it has lost somo ol its impact anJ logins tosounJ liko mothorhooJ anJ applo pio. That is vhy it is im-portant to lo vory spocic alout vhat is moant ly trust.ln tho contoxt ol luilJing a toam, trust is tho con-Jonco among toam momlors that thoir poors` intontions arogooJ, anJ that thoro is no roason to lo protoctivo or caro-lul arounJ tho group. ln ossonco, toammatos must got com-lortallo loing vulnorallo vith ono anothor.This Joscription stanJs in contrast to a moro stanJarJJonition ol trust, ono that contors arounJ tho alility toproJict a porson`s lohavior lasoJ on past oxporionco.lor instanco, ono might trust` that a givon toammato vill195196T|e ||ve |sooct|oos o a TeaproJuco high-guality vork locauso ho has alvays Jonoso in tho past.As Josirallo as this may lo, it is not onough to roprosonttho kinJ ol trust that is charactoristic ol a groat toam. lt ro-guiros toam momlors to mako thomsolvos vulnorallo to onoanothor, anJ lo conJont that thoir rospoctivo vulnoralilitiosvill not lo usoJ against thom. Tho vulnoralilitios l`m rolor-ring to incluJo voaknossos, skill Jocioncios, intorporsonalshortcomings, mistakos, anJ roguosts lor holp.As solt` as all ol this might sounJ, it is only vhon toammomlors aro truly comlortallo loing oxposoJ to ono an-othor that thoy login to act vithout concorn lor protoctingthomsolvos. As a rosult, thoy can locus thoir onorgy anJ at-tontion complotoly on tho jol at hanJ, rathor than on loingstratogically Jisingonuous or political vith ono anothor.Achioving vulnoralility-lasoJ trust is Jilcult locauso intho courso ol caroor aJvancomont anJ oJucation, most suc-cosslul pooplo loarn to lo compotitivo vith thoir poors,anJ protoctivo ol thoir roputations. lt is a challongo lor thomto turn thoso instincts oll lor tho gooJ ol a toam, lut thatis oxactly vhat is roguiroJ.Tho costs ol lailing to Jo this aro groat. Toams that lacktrust vasto inorJinato amounts ol timo anJ onorgy manag-ing thoir lohaviors anJ intoractions vithin tho group. ThoytonJ to JroaJ toam mootings, anJ aro roluctant to tako risksin asking lor or olloring assistanco to othors. As a rosult,moralo on Jistrusting toams is usually guito lov, anJ un-vantoJ turnovor is high.197|ooestaoo|og aoo Cveco|og t|e ||ve |sooct|oos5uggestions for Overconing Dysfunction 1Hov Joos a toam go alout luilJing trust? Unlortunatoly, vulnoralility-lasoJ trust cannot lo achiovoJ ovornight. lt roguiros sharoJ oxporioncos ovor timo, multiplo instancosol lollov-through anJ croJilility, anJ an in-Jopth unJor-stanJing ol tho uniguo attrilutos ol toam momlors. Hov-ovor, ly taking a locusoJ approach, a toam can Jramaticallyaccolorato tho procoss anJ achiovo trust in rolativoly shortorJor. Horo aro a lov tools that can lring this alout.Menbers of teans with an absence of trust . . . Coocea| t|e| .ea'oesses aoo |sta'es o ooe aoot|e es|tate to as' o |e|, o ,ov|oe coostoct|ve eeobac' es|tate to oe |e|, oots|oe t|e| o.o aeas o es,oos|b|||t o, to cooc|os|oos aboot t|e |oteot|oos aoo a,t|tooes o ot|es .|t|oot atte,t|og to c|a| t|e |a|| to ecogo|ze aoo ta, |oto ooe aoot|e's s'|||s aoo e,e|eoces \aste t|e aoo eoeg aoag|og t|e| be|av|os o eect o|o googes |eao eet|ogs aoo oo easoos to avo|o s,eoo|og t|e toget|eMenbers of trusting teans . . . /o|t .ea'oesses aoo |sta'es /s' o |e|, /cce,t ooest|oos aoo |o,ot aboot t|e| aeas o es,oos|b|||t C|ve ooe aoot|e t|e beoet o t|e ooobt beoe a|v|og at a oegat|ve cooc|os|oo Ta'e |s's |o oe|og eeobac' aoo ass|staoce /,,ec|ate aoo ta, |oto ooe aoot|e's s'|||s aoo e,e|eoces |ocos t|e aoo eoeg oo |,otaot |ssoes, oot ,o||t|cs Ce aoo acce,t a,o|og|es .|t|oot |es|tat|oo |oo' o.ao to eet|ogs aoo ot|e o,,otoo|t|es to .o' as a goo,198T|e ||ve |sooct|oos o a TeaPcrscucl Histcrics Ecrcisc ln loss than an hour, a toamcan tako tho rst stops tovarJ Jovoloping trust. This lov-risk oxorciso roguiros nothing moro than going arounJ thotallo Juring a mooting anJ having toam momlors ansvora short list ol guostions alout thomsolvos. Quostions nooJnot lo ovorly sonsitivo in naturo anJ might incluJo tho lol-loving: numlor ol sillings, homotovn, uniguo challongosol chilJhooJ, lavorito hollios, rst jol, anJ vorst jol. Sim-ply ly Joscriling thoso rolativoly innocuous attrilutos oroxporioncos, toam momlors login to rolato to ono anothoron a moro porsonal lasis, anJ soo ono anothor as humanloings vith lilo storios anJ intorosting lackgrounJs. Thisoncouragos groator ompathy anJ unJorstanJing, anJ Jis-couragos unlair anJ inaccurato lohavioral attrilutions. lt isamazing hov littlo somo toam momlors knov alout onoanothor, anJ hov just a small amount ol inlormation lo-gins to lroak Jovn larriors. (Vinimum timo roguiroJ: 30minutos.)1cc Effcctitcucss Ecrcisc This oxorciso is moro rigor-ous anJ rolovant than tho provious ono, lut may involvomoro risk. lt roguiros toam momlors to iJontily tho singlomost important contrilution that oach ol thoir poors makosto tho toam, as voll as tho ono aroa that thoy must oithorimprovo upon or oliminato lor tho gooJ ol tho toam. Allmomlors thon roport thoir rosponsos, locusing on ono por-son at a timo, usually loginning vith tho toam loaJor.Whilo this oxorciso may soom somovhat intrusivo anJ199|ooestaoo|og aoo Cveco|og t|e ||ve |sooct|oosJangorous at rst glanco, it is romarkallo hov managoalloit can lo anJ hov much usolul inlormation, loth construc-tivo anJ positivo, can lo oxtractoJ in alout an hour. AnJthough tho Toam Elloctivonoss Exorciso cortainly roguirossomo Jogroo ol trust in orJor to lo usolul, ovon a rolativolyJyslunctional toam can olton mako it vork vith surprisinglylittlo tonsion. (Vinimum timo roguiroJ: 60 minutos.)Pcrscuclit, cuc Pc/cticrcl Prcfcrcucc Prcflcs Somo oltho most olloctivo anJ lasting tools lor luilJing trust on atoam aro prolos ol toam momlors` lohavioral proloroncosanJ porsonality stylos. Thoso holp lroak Jovn larriors lyalloving pooplo to lottor unJorstanJ anJ ompathizo vithono anothor.Tho lost proling tool, in my opinion, is tho Vyors-Briggs Typo lnJicator (VBTl). Hovovor, a numlor ol oth-ors aro popular among Jilloront auJioncos. Tho purposool most ol thoso tools is to proviJo practical anJ scionti-cally valiJ lohavioral Joscriptions ol various toam mom-lors accorJing to tho Jivorso vays that thoy think, spoak,anJ act. Somo ol tho lost charactoristics ol tools liko thoVBTl aro thoir nonjuJgmontal naturo (no typo is lottorthan anothor, although thoy Jillor sulstantially), thoir lasisin rosoarch (thoy aro not lounJoJ upon astrology or novago scionco), anJ tho oxtont to vhich participants tako anactivo rolo in iJontilying thoir ovn typos (thoy Jon`t sim-ply rocoivo a computor printout or tost scoro that alono Jic-tatosthoirtypo).VanyolthosotoolsJoroguirotho200T|e ||ve |sooct|oos o a Teaparticipation ol a liconsoJ consultant, vhich is importantto avoiJ tho misuso ol thoir povorlul implications anJ ap-plications. (Vinimum timo roguiroJ: 4 hours.)u-Dcgrcc Pccc/cck Thoso tools havo locomo popularovor tho past tvonty yoars anJ can proJuco povorlul ro-sults lor a toam. Thoy aro riskior than any ol tho tools or ox-orcisos JoscriloJ so lar locauso thoy call lor poors to makospocic juJgmonts anJ proviJo ono anothor vith construc-tivo criticism. Tho koy to making a 360-Jogroo programvork, in my opinion, is Jivorcing it ontiroly lrom compon-sation anJ lormal porlormanco ovaluation. Pathor, it shoulJlo usoJ as a Jovolopmontal tool, ono that allovs omploy-oos to iJontily strongths anJ voaknossos vithout any ro-porcussions. By loing ovon slightly connoctoJ to lormalporlormanco ovaluation or componsation, 360-Jogroo pro-grams can tako on Jangorous political unJortonos.Ejcricuticl 1cc Ecrciscs Popos coursos anJ othor ox-poriontial toam activitios soom to havo lost somo ol thoirlustor ovor tho courso ol tho past ton yoars, anJ JosorvoJlyso. Still, many toams Jo thom vith tho hopo ol luilJingtrust. AnJ vhilo thoro aro cortainly somo lonots JorivoJlrom rigorous anJ croativo outJoor activitios involving col-loctivo support anJ cooporation, thoso lonots Jo not al-vays translato Jiroctly to tho vorking vorlJ. That loingsaiJ, oxporiontial toam oxorcisos can lo valuallo tools lor201|ooestaoo|og aoo Cveco|og t|e ||ve |sooct|oosonhancing toamvork as long as thoy aro layoroJ uponmoro lunJamontal anJ rolovant procossos.Whilo oach ol thoso tools anJ oxorcisos can havo a signil-icant short-torm impact on a toam`s alility to luilJ trust,thoy must lo accompanioJ ly rogular lollov-up in thocourso ol Jaily vork. lnJiviJual Jovolopmontal aroas mustlo rovisitoJ to onsuro that progross Joos not loso momon-tum. Evon on a strong toam-anJ porhaps ospocially so-atrophy can loaJ to tho orosion ol trust.The RoIe of the LeaderTho most important action that a loaJor must tako to on-courago tho luilJing ol trust on a toam is to Jomonstratovulnoralility rst. This roguiros that a loaJor risk losinglaco in lront ol tho toam, so that sulorJinatos vill tako thosamo risk thomsolvos. What is moro, toam loaJors must cro-ato an onvironmont that Joos not punish vulnoralility.Evon voll-intontionoJ toams can sultly Jiscourago trust lychastising ono anothor lor aJmissions ol voaknoss or lail-uro. linally, Jisplays ol vulnoralility on tho part ol a toamloaJor must lo gonuino, thoy cannot lo stagoJ. Ono ol tholost vays to loso tho trust ol a toam is to loign vulnoralil-ity in orJor to manipulato tho omotions ol othors.202T|e ||ve |sooct|oos o a TeaConnection to Dysfunction 2Hov Joos all ol this rolato to tho noxt Jyslunction, tho loarol conuict? By luilJing trust, a toam makos conuict possi-llo locauso toam momlors Jo not hositato to ongago inpassionato anJ somotimos omotional Jolato, knoving thatthoy vill not lo punishoJ lor saying somothing that mightothorviso lo intorprotoJ as Jostructivo or critical.DY5FUNCTlON 2: FEAR OF CONFLlCTAll groat rolationships, tho onos that last ovor timo, roguiroproJuctivo conuict in orJor to grov. This is truo in mar-riago, paronthooJ, lrionJship, anJ cortainly lusinoss.Unlortunatoly, conuict is consiJoroJ taloo in many sit-uations, ospocially at vork. AnJ tho highor you go up thomanagomont chain, tho moro you nJ pooplo sponJing in-orJinato amounts ol timo anJ onorgy trying to avoiJ tho kinJol passionato Jolatos that aro ossontial to any groat toam.lt is important to Jistinguish proJuctivo iJoologicalconuict lrom Jostructivo ghting anJ intorporsonal politics.lJoological conuict is limitoJ to concopts anJ iJoas, anJavoiJs porsonality-locusoJ, moan-spiritoJ attacks. Hov-ovor, it can havo many ol tho samo oxtornal gualitios ol in-torporsonal conuict-passion, omotion, anJ lrustration-somuch so that an outsiJo olsorvor might oasily mistako itlor unproJuctivo JiscorJ.But toams that ongago in proJuctivo conuict knov thattho only purposo is to proJuco tho lost possillo solution203|ooestaoo|og aoo Cveco|og t|e ||ve |sooct|oosin tho shortost porioJ ol timo. Thoy Jiscuss anJ rosolvo is-suos moro guickly anJ complotoly than othors, anJ thoyomorgo lrom hoatoJ Jolatos vith no rosiJual loolings orcollatoral Jamago, lut vith an oagornoss anJ roaJinoss totako on tho noxt important issuo.lronically, toams that avoiJ iJoological conuict oltonJo so in orJor to avoiJ hurting toam momlors` loolings,anJ thon onJ up oncouraging Jangorous tonsion. Whontoam momlors Jo not oponly Jolato anJ Jisagroo aloutimportant iJoas, thoy olton turn to lack-channol porsonalattacks, vhich aro lar nastior anJ moro harmlul than anyhoatoJ argumont ovor issuos.lt is also ironic that so many pooplo avoiJ conuict in thonamo ol olcioncy, locauso hoalthy conuict is actually atimo savor. Contrary to tho notion that toams vasto timo anJonorgy arguing, thoso that avoiJ conuict actually Joomthomsolvos to rovisiting issuos again anJ again vithout ros-olution. Thoy olton ask toam momlors to tako thoir issuosoll-lino,` vhich sooms to lo a ouphomism lor avoiJingJoaling vith an important topic, only to havo it raisoJ againat tho noxt mooting.5uggestions for Overconing Dysfunction 2Hov Joos a toam go alout Jovoloping tho alility anJ vill-ingnoss to ongago in hoalthy conuict? Tho rst stop is ac-knovloJging that conuict is proJuctivo, anJ that manytoams havo a tonJoncy to avoiJ it. As long as somo toam204T|e ||ve |sooct|oos o a Teamomlors loliovo that conuict is unnocossary, thoro is lit-tlo chanco that it vill occur. But loyonJ moro rocognition,thoro aro a lov simplo mothoJs lor making conuict morocommon anJ proJuctivo.Miuiug Vomlors ol toams that tonJ to avoiJ conuict mustoccasionally assumo tho rolo ol a minor ol conllict`-somoono vho oxtracts lurioJ Jisagroomonts vithin thotoam anJ shoJs tho light ol Jay on thom. Thoy must havotho courago anJ conJonco to call out sonsitivo issuos anJlorco toam momlors to vork through thom. This roguirosTeans that fear conict . . . ave bo|og eet|ogs Ceate eov|ooeots .|ee bac'-c|aooe| ,o||t|cs aoo ,esooa| attac'st||ve |gooe cootoves|a| to,|cs t|at ae c|t|ca| to tea soccess |a|| to ta, |oto a|| t|e o,|o|oos aoo ,es,ect|ves o tea ebes \aste t|e aoo eoeg .|t| ,osto|og aoo |ote,esooa| |s' aoageeotTeans that engage in conict . . . ave ||ve|, |oteest|og eet|ogs |tact aoo e,|o|t t|e |oeas o a|| tea ebes So|ve ea| ,ob|es oo|c'| ||o||ze ,o||t|cs |ot c|t|ca| to,|cs oo t|e tab|e o o|scoss|oo205|ooestaoo|og aoo Cveco|og t|e ||ve |sooct|oosa Jogroo ol oljoctivity Juring mootings anJ a commitmontto staying vith tho conuict until it is rosolvoJ. Somo toamsmay vant to assign a momlor ol tho toam to tako on thisrosponsilility Juring a givon mooting or Jiscussion.Rccl-1ic Pcrissicu ln tho procoss ol mining lor con-uict, toam momlors nooJ to coach ono anothor not to ro-troat lrom hoalthy Jolato. Ono simplo lut olloctivo vay toJo this is to rocognizo vhon tho pooplo ongagoJ in con-uict aro locoming uncomlortallo vith tho lovol ol JiscorJ,anJ thon intorrupt to rominJ thom that vhat thoy aro Joingis nocossary. As simplo anJ patornal as this may sounJ, itis a romarkally olloctivo tool lor Jraining tonsion lrom aproJuctivo lut Jilcult intorchango, giving tho participantstho conJonco to continuo. AnJ onco tho Jiscussion ormooting has onJoJ, it is holplul to rominJ participants thattho conuict thoy just ongagoJ in is gooJ lor tho toam anJnot somothing to avoiJ in tho luturo.Ot/cr 1ccls As montionoJ oarlior in this soction, thoro aroa varioty ol porsonality stylo anJ lohavioral proloronco toolsthat allov toam momlors to lottor unJorstanJ ono anothor.Bocauso most ol thoso incluJo Joscriptions ol hov Jillor-ont typos Joal vith conuict, thoy can lo usolul lor holpingpooplo anticipato thoir approach or rosistanco to it. Anothortool that spocically rolatos to conuict is tho Thomas-KilmannConuict VoJo lnstrumont, commonly rolorroJ to as tho TKl.206T|e ||ve |sooct|oos o a Tealt allovs toam momlors to unJorstanJ natural inclinationsarounJ conuict so thoy can mako moro stratogic choicosalout vhich approachos aro most appropriato in Jillorontsituations.The RoIe of the LeaderOno ol tho most Jilcult challongos that a loaJor lacos inpromoting hoalthy conuict is tho Josiro to protoct momlorslrom harm. This loaJs to promaturo intorruption ol Jis-agroomonts, anJ provonts toam momlors lrom Jovolopingcoping skills lor Joaling vith conuict thomsolvos. This is notunliko paronts vho ovorprotoct thoir chilJron lrom guarrolsor altorcations vith sillings. ln many casos, it sorvos onlyto strain tho rolationships ly Jopriving tho participants olan opportunity to Jovolop conuict managomont skills. ltalso loavos thom hungry lor rosolution that novor occurs.Thoroloro, it is koy that loaJors Jomonstrato rostraintvhon thoir pooplo ongago in conuict, anJ allov rosolutionto occur naturally, as mossy as it can somotimos lo. Thiscan lo a challongo locauso many loaJors lool that thoy arosomohov lailing in thoir jols ly losing control ol thoirtoams Juring conuict.linally, as trito as it may sounJ, a loaJor`s alility to por-sonally moJol appropriato conuict lohavior is ossontial. ByavoiJing conuict vhon it is nocossary anJ proJuctivo-somothing many oxocutivos Jo-a toam loaJor vill oncour-ago this Jyslunction to thrivo.207|ooestaoo|og aoo Cveco|og t|e ||ve |sooct|oosConnection to Dysfunction 3Hov Joos all ol this rolato to tho noxt Jyslunction, tho lackol commitmont? By ongaging in proJuctivo conuict anJtapping into toam momlors` porspoctivos anJ opinions, atoam can conliJontly commit anJ luy in to a Jocisionknoving that thoy havo lonotoJ lrom ovoryono`s iJoas.DY5FUNCTlON 3: LACK OF COMMlTMENTln tho contoxt ol a toam, commitmont is a lunction ol tvothings: clarity anJ luy-in. Groat toams mako cloar anJtimoly Jocisions anJ movo lorvarJ vith comploto luy-inlrom ovory momlor ol tho toam, ovon thoso vho votoJagainst tho Jocision. Thoy loavo mootings conJont that noono on tho toam is guiotly harloring Joults alout vhothorto support tho actions agrooJ on.Tho tvo groatost causos ol tho lack ol commitmont arotho Josiro lor consonsus anJ tho nooJ lor cortainty:-ccuscusvs. Groat toams unJorstanJ tho Jangor olsooking consonsus, anJ nJ vays to achiovo luy-in ovonvhon comploto agroomont is impossillo. Thoy unJorstanJthat roasonallo human loings Jo not nooJ to got thoir vayin orJor to support a Jocision, lut only nooJ to knov thatthoir opinions havo loon hoarJ anJ consiJoroJ. Groat toamsonsuro that ovoryono`s iJoas aro gonuinoly consiJoroJ,vhich thon croatos a villingnoss to rally arounJ vhatovorJocision is ultimatoly maJo ly tho group. AnJ vhon that208T|e ||ve |sooct|oos o a Teais not possillo Juo to an impasso, tho loaJor ol tho toamis allovoJ to mako tho call.-ccrtciut,. Groat toams also priJo thomsolvos onloing allo to unito lohinJ Jocisions anJ commit to cloarcoursos ol action ovon vhon thoro is littlo assuranco aloutvhothor tho Jocision is corroct. That`s locauso thoy unJor-stanJ tho olJ military axiom that c Jocision is lottor than ucJocision. Thoy also roalizo that it is lottor to mako a Joci-sion lolJly anJ lo vrong-anJ thon chango Jiroction vithogual lolJnoss-than it is to valuo.Contrast this vith tho lohavior ol Jyslunctional toamsthat try to hoJgo thoir lots anJ Jolay important Jocisionsuntil thoy havo onough Jata to lool cortain that thoy aromaking tho right Jocision. As pruJont as this might soom,it is Jangorous locauso ol tho paralysis anJ lack ol con-Jonco it lrooJs vithin a toam.lt is important to romomlor that conuict unJorlios thovillingnoss to commit vithout porloct inlormation. ln manycasos, toams havo all tho inlormation thoy nooJ, lut it ro-siJos vithin tho hoarts anJ minJs ol tho toam itsoll anJ mustlo oxtractoJ through unltoroJ Jolato. Only vhon ovory-ono has put thoir opinions anJ porspoctivos on tho tallo cantho toam conJontly commit to a Jocision knoving that ithas tappoJ into tho colloctivo visJom ol tho ontiro group.PogarJloss ol vhothor it is causoJ ly tho nooJ lor con-sonsus or cortainty, it is important to unJorstanJ that ono209|ooestaoo|og aoo Cveco|og t|e ||ve |sooct|oosol tho groatost consoguoncos lor an cccvtitc toam that Joosnot commit to cloar Jocisions is unrosolvallo JiscorJ Jooporin tho organization. Voro than any ol tho Jyslunctions, thisono croatos Jangorous ripplo ollocts lor sulorJinatos. Whonan oxocutivo toam lails to achiovo luy-in lrom all toam mom-lors, ovon il tho Jisparitios that oxist soom rolativoly small,omployoos vho roport to thoso oxocutivos vill inovitallyclash vhon thoy try to intorprot marching orJors that aro notcloarly alignoJ vith thoso ol colloaguos in othor Jopart-monts. Iiko a vortox, small gaps lotvoon oxocutivos highup in an organization locomo major Jiscropancios ly thotimo thoy roach omployoos lolov.A tean that faiIs to connit . . . Ceates ab|go|t aoog t|e tea aboot o|ect|oo aoo ,|o|t|es \atc|es .|ooo.s o o,,otoo|t c|ose ooe to ecess|ve aoa|s|s aoo oooecessa oe|a 3eeos |ac' o coooeoce aoo ea o a||oe |ev|s|ts o|scoss|oos aoo oec|s|oos aga|o aoo aga|o |ocooages secooo-goess|og aoog tea ebesA tean that connits . . . Ceates c|a|t aoooo o|ect|oo aoo ,|o|t|es /||gos t|e eot|e tea aoooo cooo ob,ect|ves |eve|o,s ao ab|||t to |eao o |sta'es Ta'es aovaotage o o,,otoo|t|es beoe co,et|tos oo |oves o.ao .|t|oot |es|tat|oo C|aoges o|ect|oo .|t|oot |es|tat|oo o go||t210T|e ||ve |sooct|oos o a Tea5uggestions for Overconing Dysfunction 3Hov Joos a toam go alout onsuring commitmont? By tak-ing spocic stops to maximizo clarity anJ achiovo luy-in,anJ rosisting tho luro ol consonsus or cortainty. Horo aro alov simplo lut olloctivo tools anJ principlos.ccsccciug Mcsscgiug Ono ol tho most valuallo Jisciplinosthat any toam can aJopt takos just a lov minutos anJ is al-solutoly lroo. At tho onJ ol a stall mooting or oll-sito, a toamshoulJ oxplicitly roviov tho koy Jocisions maJo Juring thomooting, anJ agroo on vhat nooJs to lo communicatoJ toomployoos or othor constituoncios alout thoso Jocisions.What olton happons Juring this oxorciso is that momlors oltho toam loarn that thoy aro not all on tho samo pago aloutvhat has loon agrooJ upon anJ that thoy nooJ to clarilyspocic outcomos loloro putting thom into action. Voro-ovor, thoy locomo cloar on vhich ol tho Jocisions shoulJromain conJontial, anJ vhich must lo communicatoJguickly anJ comprohonsivoly. linally, ly loaving mootingscloarly alignoJ vith ono anothor, loaJors sonJ a povorlulanJ volcomoJ mossago to omployoos vho havo grovn ac-customoJ to rocoiving inconsistont anJ ovon contraJictorystatomonts lrom managors vho attonJoJ tho samo mooting.(Vinimum timo roguiroJ: 10 minutos.)Dcccliucs As simplo as it sooms, ono ol tho lost tools loronsuring commitmont is tho uso ol cloar JoaJlinos lor vhonJocisions vill lo maJo, anJ honoring thoso Jatos vith Jis-211|ooestaoo|og aoo Cveco|og t|e ||ve |sooct|oosciplino anJ rigiJity. Tho vorst onomy ol a toam that is sus-coptillo to this Jyslunction is amliguity, anJ timing is onool tho most critical lactors that must lo maJo cloar. Whatis moro, committing to JoaJlinos lor intormoJiato JocisionsanJ milostonos is just as important as nal JoaJlinos, lo-causo it onsuros that misalignmont among toam momlorsis iJontioJ anJ aJJrossoJ loloro tho costs aro too groat.ccutiugcuc, cuc Wcrst-ccsc Sccucric Aucl,sis A toamthat strugglos vith commitmont can login ovorcoming thistonJoncy ly lriouy Jiscussing contingoncy plans up lrontor, lottor yot, clarilying tho vorst-caso sconario lor a Jo-cision thoy aro struggling to mako. This usually allovs thomto roJuco thoir loars ly holping thom roalizo that tho costsol an incorroct Jocision aro survivallo, anJ lar loss Jam-aging than thoy haJ imaginoJ.Ict-Risk Ejcsvrc 1/crcj, Anothor rolovant oxorciso lora commitmont-pholic toam is tho Jomonstration ol Joci-sivonoss in rolativoly lov-risk situations. Whon toams lorcothomsolvos to mako Jocisions altor sulstantial Jiscussion lutlittlo analysis or rosoarch, thoy usually como to roalizo thattho guality ol tho Jocision thoy maJo vas lottor than thoyhaJ oxpoctoJ. What is moro, thoy loarn that tho JocisionvoulJ not havo loon much Jilloront haJ tho toam ongagoJin longthy, timo-consuming stuJy. This is not to say that ro-soarch anJ analysis aro not nocossary or important, lut rath-or that toams vith this Jyslunction tonJ to ovorvaluo thom.212T|e ||ve |sooct|oos o a TeaThe RoIe of the LeaderVoro than any othor momlor ol tho toam, tho loaJor mustlo comlortallo vith tho prospoct ol making a Jocision thatultimatoly turns out to lo vrong. AnJ tho loaJor must loconstantly pushing tho group lor closuro arounJ issuos, asvoll as aJhoronco to schoJulos that tho toam has sot. Whattho loaJor cannot Jo is placo too high a promium on cor-tainty or consonsus.Connection to Dysfunction 4Hov Joos all ol this rolato to tho noxt Jyslunction, thoavoiJanco ol accountalility? ln orJor lor toammatos to calloach othor on thoir lohaviors anJ actions, thoy must havoa cloar sonso ol vhat is oxpoctoJ. Evon tho most arJont lo-liovors in accountalility usually lalk at having to holJsomoono accountallo lor somothing that vas novor loughtin to or maJo cloar in tho rst placo.DY5FUNCTlON 4: AVOlDANCE OF ACCOUNTABlLlTYAcccvutc/ilit, is a luzzvorJ that has lost much ol its moan-ing as it has locomo as ovorusoJ as torms liko cjctcrcutanJ qvclit,. ln tho contoxt ol toamvork, hovovor, it rolorsspocically to tho villingnoss ol toam momlors to call thoirpoors on porlormanco or lohaviors that might hurt tho toam.Tho ossonco ol this Jyslunction is tho unvillingnoss oltoam momlors to tolorato tho intorporsonal Jiscomlort thataccompanios calling a poor on his or hor lohavior anJ tho213|ooestaoo|og aoo Cveco|og t|e ||ve |sooct|oosmoro gonoral tonJoncy to avoiJ Jilcult convorsations.Vomlors ol groat toams ovorcomo thoso natural inclina-tions, opting instoaJ to ontor tho Jangor` vith ono anothor.Ol courso, this is oasior saiJ than Jono, ovon among co-hosivo toams vith strong porsonal rolationships. ln lact, toammomlors vho aro particularly closo to ono anothor somo-timos hositato to holJ ono anothor accountallo procisoly lo-causo thoy loar jooparJizing a valuallo porsonal rolationship.lronically, this only causos tho rolationship to Jotorioratoas toam momlors login to rosont ono anothor lor not liv-ing up to oxpoctations anJ lor alloving tho stanJarJs ol thogroup to oroJo. Vomlors ol groat toams improvo thoir rola-tionships ly holJing ono anothor accountallo, thus Jom-onstratingthatthoyrospoctoachothoranJhavohighoxpoctations lor ono anothor`s porlormanco.As politically incorroct as it sounJs, tho most olloctivoanJ olciont moans ol maintaining high stanJarJs ol por-lormanco on a toam is poor prossuro. Ono ol tho lonotsis tho roJuction ol tho nooJ lor oxcossivo luroaucracyarounJ porlormanco managomont anJ corroctivo action.Voro than any policy or systom, thoro is nothing liko tholoar ol lotting Jovn rospoctoJ toammatos that motivatospooplo to improvo thoir porlormanco.5uggestions for Overconing Dysfunction 4Hov Joos a toam go alout onsuring accountalility? Tho koyto ovorcoming this Jyslunction is aJhoring to a lov classicmanagomont tools that aro as olloctivo as thoy aro simplo.214T|e ||ve |sooct|oos o a TeaPv/liccticu cf Gccls cuc Stcuccrcs A gooJ vay to makoit oasior lor toam momlors to holJ ono anothor accountallois to clarily pullicly oxactly vhat tho toam nooJs to achiovo,vho nooJs to Jolivor vhat, anJ hov ovoryono must lohavoin orJor to succooJ. Tho onomy ol accountalility is amli-guity, anJ ovon vhon a toam has initially committoJ to aplan or a sot ol lohavioral stanJarJs, it is important to koopthoso agroomonts in tho opon so that no ono can oasilyignoro thom.Sijlc cuc Rcgvlcr Prcgrcss Rcticts A littlo structurogoos a long vay tovarJ holping pooplo tako action thatthoy might not othorviso lo inclinoJ to Jo. This is ospo-A tean that avoids accountabiIity . . . Ceates eseoteot aoog tea ebes .|o |ave o|eeot staooaos o ,eoaoce |ocooages eo|oc|t ||sses oeao||oes aoo 'e oe||veab|es ||aces ao ooooe booeo oo t|e tea |eaoe as t|e so|e sooce o o|sc|,||oeA tean that hoIds one another accountabIe . . . |osoes t|at ,oo ,eoes ee| ,essoe to |,ove |oeot|es ,oteot|a| ,ob|es oo|c'| b ooest|oo|og ooe aoot|e's a,,oac|es .|t|oot |es|tat|oo |stab||s|es es,ect aoog tea ebes .|o ae |e|o to t|e sae||g| staooaos /vo|os ecess|ve boeaocac aoooo ,eoaoce aoageeot aoocoect|ve act|oo215|ooestaoo|og aoo Cveco|og t|e ||ve |sooct|ooscially truo vhon it comos to giving pooplo looJlack onthoir lohavior or porlormanco. Toam momlors shoulJ rog-ularly communicato vith ono anothor, oithor vorlally or invritton lorm, alout hov thoy lool thoir toammatos aroJoing against statoJ oljoctivos anJ stanJarJs. Polying onthom to Jo so on thoir ovn, vith no cloar oxpoctations orstructuro, is inviting tho potontial lor tho avoiJanco ol ac-countalility.1cc Rctcrcs By shilting rovarJs avay lrom inJiviJualporlormanco to toam achiovomont, tho toam can croato aculturo ol accountalility. This occurs locauso a toam is un-likoly to stanJ ly guiotly anJ lail locauso a poor is notpulling his or hor voight.The RoIe of the LeaderOno ol tho most Jilcult challongos lor a loaJor vho vantsto instill accountalility on a toam is to oncourago anJ allovtho toam to sorvo as tho rst anJ primary accountalilitymochanism. Somotimos strong loaJors naturally croato anaccountalility vacuum vithin tho toam, loaving thomsolvosas tho only sourco ol Jisciplino. This croatos an onviron-mont vhoro toam momlors assumo that tho loaJor is holJ-ing othors accountallo, anJ so thoy holJ lack ovon vhonthoy soo somothing that isn`t right.Onco a loaJor has croatoJ a culturo ol accountalility ona toam, hovovor, ho or sho must lo villing to sorvo as thoultimato arlitor ol Jisciplino vhon tho toam itsoll lails. ThisshoulJ lo a raro occurronco. Novortholoss, it must lo cloar216T|e ||ve |sooct|oos o a Teato all toam momlors that accountalility has not loon rol-ogatoJ to a consonsus approach, lut moroly to a sharoJtoam rosponsilility, anJ that tho loaJor ol tho toam vill nothositato to stop in vhon it is nocossary.Connection to Dysfunction 5Hov Joos all ol this rolato to tho noxt Jyslunction, tho inat-tontion to rosults? ll toammatos aro not loing holJ ac-countallo lor thoir contrilutions, thoy vill lo moro likolyto turn thoir attontion to thoir ovn nooJs, anJ to tho aJ-vancomont ol thomsolvos or thoir Jopartmonts. An alsoncool accountalility is an invitation to toam momlors to shiltthoir attontion to aroas othor than colloctivo rosults.DY5FUNCTlON 5: lNATTENTlON TO RE5ULT5Tho ultimato Jyslunction ol a toam is tho tonJoncy ol mom-lors to caro alout somothing othor than tho colloctivo goalsol tho group. An unrolonting locus on spocic oljoctivosanJ cloarly JonoJ outcomos is a roguiromont lor any toamthat juJgos itsoll on porlormanco.lt shoulJ lo notoJ horo that rosults aro not limitoJ tonancial moasuros liko prot, rovonuo, or sharoholJor ro-turns. Though it is truo that many organizations in a capi-talist oconomic onvironmont ultimatoly moasuro thoir succossin thoso torms, this Jyslunction rolors to a lar lroaJor Jo-nition ol rosults, ono that is rolatoJ to outcomo-lasoJ por-lormanco.EvorygooJorganizationspociosvhatitplansto217|ooestaoo|og aoo Cveco|og t|e ||ve |sooct|oosachiovo in a givon porioJ, anJ thoso goals, moro than tho -nancial motrics that thoy Jrivo, mako up tho majority olnoar-torm, controllallo rosults. So, vhilo prot may lo thoultimato moasuro ol rosults lor a corporation, tho goals anJoljoctivos that oxocutivos sot lor thomsolvos along tho vayconstituto a moro roprosontativo oxamplo ol tho rosults itstrivos lor as a toam. Ultimatoly, thoso goals Jrivo prot.But vhat voulJ a toam lo locusoJ on othor than ro-sults? Toam status anJ inJiviJual status aro tho primo can-JiJatos:-1cc stctvs. lor momlors ol somo toams, morolyloing part ol tho group is onough to koop thom satisoJ.lor thom, tho achiovomont ol spocilic rosults might loJosirallo, lut not nocossarily vorthy ol groat sacrico orinconvonionco. As riJiculous anJ Jangorous as this mightsoom, plonty ol toams lall proy to tho luro ol status. Thosoolton incluJo altruistic nonprot organizations that comoto loliovo that tho nolility ol thoir mission is onough to jus-tily thoir satislaction. Political groups, acaJomic Jopart-monts, anJ prostigious companios aro also suscoptillo tothis Jyslunction, as thoy olton soo succoss in moroly loingassociatoJ vith thoir sjccicl organizations.-Iuciticvcl stctvs. This rolors to tho lamiliar ton-Joncy ol pooplo to locus on onhancing thoir ovn positionsor caroor prospocts at tho oxponso ol thoir toam. Thoughall human loings havo an innato tonJoncy tovarJ soll-prosorvation, a lunctional toam must mako tho colloctivo218T|e ||ve |sooct|oos o a Tearosults ol tho group moro important to oach inJiviJual thaninJiviJual momlors` goals.As olvious as this Jyslunction might soom at rst glanco,anJ as cloar as it is that it must lo avoiJoJ, it is important tonoto that many toams aro simply not rosults locusoJ. ThoyJo not livo anJ lroatho in orJor to achiovo moaninglul ol-joctivos, lut rathor moroly to oxist or survivo. Unlortunatolylor thoso groups, no amount ol trust, conuict, commitmont,or accountalility can componsato lor a lack ol Josiro to vin.5uggestions for Overconing Dysfunction 5Hov Joos a toam go alout onsuring that its attontion is lo-cusoJ on rosults? By making rosults cloar, anJ rovarJing onlythoso lohaviors anJ actions that contriluto to thoso rosults.A tean that is not focused on resuIts . . . Stagoates/a||s to go. |ae| oeeats co,et|tos |oses ac||eveeot-o|eoteo e,|oees |ocooages tea ebes to ocos oo t|e| o.o caees aoo |oo|v|ooa|goa|s |s eas|| o|stacteoA tean that focuses on coIIective resuIts . . . |eta|os ac||eveeot-o|eoteo e,|oees ||o||zes |oo|v|ooa||st|c be|av|o |o,os soccess aoo soes a||oe acote| 3eoets o |oo|v|ooa|s .|o sob,ogate t|e| o.o goa|s/|oteests o t|egooo o t|e tea /vo|os o|stact|oos219|ooestaoo|og aoo Cveco|og t|e ||ve |sooct|oosPv/lic Dcclcrcticu cf Rcsvlts ln tho minJ ol a lootlall orlaskotlall coach, ono ol tho vorst things a toam momlorcan Jo is pullicly guarantoo that his or hor toam vill vinan upcoming gamo. ln tho caso ol an athlotic toam, this isa prollom locauso it can unnocossarily provoko an op-ponont. lor most toams, hovovor, it can lo holplul to makopullic proclamations alout intonJoJ succoss.Toams that aro villing to commit pullicly to spocic ro-sults aro moro likoly to vork vith a passionato, ovon Jos-porato Josiro to achiovo thoso rosults. Toams that say, Wo`llJo our lost,` aro sultly, il not purposolully, proparing thom-solvos lor lailuro.Rcsvlts-Pcscc Rctcrcs An olloctivo vay to onsuro thattoam momlors locus thoir attontion on rosults is to tio thoirrovarJs, ospocially componsation, to tho achiovomont olspocic outcomos. Polying on this alono can lo prollom-atic locauso it assumos that nancial motivation is tho soloJrivor ol lohavior. Still, lotting somoono tako homo a lonusmoroly lor trying harJ,` ovon in tho alsonco ol rosults,sonJs a mossago that achioving tho outcomo may not lotorrilly important altor all.The RoIe of the LeaderPorhaps moro than vith any ol tho othor Jyslunctions, tholoaJor must sot tho tono lor a locus on rosults. ll toammomlors sonso that tho loaJor valuos anything othor thanrosults, thoy vill tako that as pormission to Jo tho samo220T|e ||ve |sooct|oos o a Tealor thomsolvos. Toam loaJors must lo soluoss anJ oljoc-tivo, anJ rosorvo rovarJs anJ rocognition lor thoso vhomako roal contrilutions to tho achiovomont ol group goals.5UMMARYAs much inlormation as is containoJ horo, tho roality ro-mains that toamvork ultimatoly comos Jovn to practicinga small sot ol principlos ovor a long porioJ ol timo. Succossis not a mattor ol mastoring sultlo, sophisticatoJ thoory, lutrathor ol omlracing common sonso vith uncommon lovolsol Jisciplino anJ porsistonco.lronically, toams succooJ locauso thoy aro oxcooJinglyhuman. By acknovloJging tho imporloctions ol thoir hu-manity, momlors ol lunctional toams ovorcomo tho naturaltonJoncios that mako trust, conuict, commitmont, account-alility, anJ a locus on rosults so olusivo.