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:

1. Absence of Trust
2. Fear of Conflict
3. Lack of Commitment
4. Avoidance of accountability 
5. 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.