The Five Common Dysfunctions Of A Team

Teamwork is the most valuable quality of our military. It is the foundation of which we thrive and it relies on good leaders. Teams go through cycles and take time to develop, but once formed they are a force to be reckoned with. So why do some teams fail? I think the most important concept we learned within module 5 is often overlooked, The Five Common Dysfunctions of a Team. I feel this concept is important because so many ignore it, yet it is so vital in developing successful teams. There will always be some form of conflict or dysfunction within an organization. Being able to recognize these behaviors enable you the ability to confront the issues.
One of the most evident issues I’ve seen is fear of conflict. We naturally fear what others think and are afraid to confront people. I’ve seen this at all levels, within peers, subordinates and supervisors; ignoring …show more content…
Conflict is not always negative. Healthy conflict allows team members to engage in passionate debate, which result in productive resolutions to problems. I tell my airman that if they have an issue with anyone (to include myself) or anything within the work center they need to address it. Silence will not solve the problem. A lot of us struggle with this because of the value we put into our image. This leads into avoidance of accountability.
Holding others accountable is a frightening task and can lead to awkward confrontations. Those who avoid accountability display mediocrity performance. Without holding yourself or others accountable, will result in a poorly functioning team. Often this team will rely heavily on the leader to be the sole disciplinarian. I’ve been in this situation, airmen would bring all issues to me and not take the responsibility to hold people accountable. I became stressed and easily irritated. This created an unhealthy work environment;