Empowering Teams. Manage dysfunctions and create cohesion.
Empowering teams and managing people can be quite a challenge. We all come with a bundle of character traits, strategies of communication and conflicting interests. It’s evident that conflict is imminent eventually.
“If you’re not interested in getting better, it’s time for you to stop leading.” Patrick Lencioni
Creating teamwork and collaboration goes beyond communication and conflict management. It’s about understanding the underlying human behaviour that we all share to some extent. As a leader, part of your work in empowering teams is to pick up on toxic behaviour so that you can apply tools to increase trust, open up constructive conversations and commit the group of individuals to the bigger picture: the vision of the company rather than individual gains and rewards.
Here’s a quick overview from Lencioni of the 5 Dysfunctions of a Team:
- Absence of Trust
- Fear of Conflict
- Lack of Commitment
- Avoidance of accountability
- Inattention to results
“No matter what we’re doing on the outside, people respond primarily to how we’re feeling about them on the inside,”
said Bud to Tom, The Arbinger Institute
We highly recommend to read the book by Patrick Lencioni: The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable. If you haven’t read it yet, maybe you would like to watch the quick Callibrain video first and try our Worksheet with simple exercises on how to steer your team towards motivation and cohesion.
**Quick peek into our WORKSHEET**
Putting it into practice
_Quickies 5min
The Power of Pardon
Say Sorry. This may seem obvious, yet it is not easy nor common for most of us to do so. You may feel sorry for an inappropriate behaviour or comment from your side, but did you actually step up, go to that person, and apologized while looking into his/her eyes?
- It takes courage.
- It creates trust showing your vulnerability.
- Reflect on your last month and check whom you may want to approach, and simply apologise.
Connect to Humor
Work can be a serious, dull or repetitive at times. It’s important to maintain a certain level of fun, take life and work with a sense of humour, laugh about yourself and celebrate mistakes at least with a chuckle.
- Organise a Powerpoint Storytelling Slam once a month
- Share funny, vulnerable stories of yourself
- Watch some stand-up comedy at lunchtime
_Take it further!
…take it further and deepen the learning by doing the exercises suggested on our worksheet, here.
Always keen to know how you are getting on!
Maike

MAIKE STOLTE
Executive Coach. Consultant. Trainer. Facilitator.
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