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Teams & Groupwork

Teams and groupwork

Tackle Obstacles to Teamwork Early

Patrick Lencioni, a business consultant, described five obstacles to teamwork in his fable The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, based on his observations of why teams fail (cited in Lencioni 2016: 178).

Lencioni describes five common problems that stop teams from working well. They build on each other like a pyramid:

  • ABSENCE OF TRUST— team members don't feel safe admitting mistakes or weaknesses, so they are not open with each other
  • FEAR OF CONFLICT— avoiding difficult conversations leads to fake harmony instead of embracing constructive, passionate debate
  • LACK OF COMMITMENT—if issues aren't openly debated, people don't fully buy into decisions, which creates ambiguity around goals
  • AVOIDANCE OF ACCOUNTABILITY—without commitment, no one holds each other responsible; and not calling out poor behaviour sets low standards
  • INATTENTION TO RESULTS—personal success, status and ego come before team success

How can knowing about these obstacles help teamwork?

According to Lencioni, these five dysfunctions are all about the dynamics of getting things done (or not). These problems often show up in group projects (e.g. one person carrying the load, others disengaging). Spotting them early can help the group fix team issues before deadlines.

Teams need to be aware that:

  • Fear of being vulnerable with other team members can prevent the building of trust within the team.
  • The desire to preserve artificial harmony stifles productive conflict.
  • Fear of being wrong prevents team members from making decisions in a timely and definitive way.
  • The need to avoid interpersonal discomfort prevents team members from holding one another accountable for their behaviours.
  • The desire for individual credit erodes the focus on collective success.

Being aware of these pitfalls and addressing them early can prevent bigger issues from arising. This table compares the behaviours of dysfunctional teams with the behaviours of functional teams and indicates the actions a team can take to help the team function well.

Behaviours of Dysfunctional Teams Compared with Functional Teams

Obstacle Dysfunctional Teams Functional Teams
Absence of trust

Conceal weaknesses; fear vulnerability

 Share vulnerabilities openly; build mutual trust
Fear of conflict Avoid healthy debate; seek artificial harmony Engage in constructive debate; value diverse perspectives
Lack of commitment Don't make decisions; is unclear Commit to decisions; embrace accountability
Avoidance of accountability Shun responsibility; ignore low standards Hold peers accountable; maintain high standards
Inattention to results Prioritise individual goals; neglect team outcomes Focus on team success; celebrate results

The Team Project Planning Wizard is designed to help teams discuss together how they might approach these potential obstacles to working together effectively.