3 Causes of Team Dysfunction…and How to Combat Them
Following 20 years at a large Canadian telecommunications firm, Bruce established the project management consulting firm Solutions Management Inc (SMI). Since 1999, he has provided contract project/program management services, been a source for project management support personnel and created/delivered courses to over 7,000 participants in Canada, the United States and England.
We have all seen it: projects struggling to achieve milestones, seemingly because project team members appear not able to work together. In most situations, people are not overtly preventing functional teams from succeeding (that could be grounds for disciplinary action), yet it is clear there is a lack of willingness to provide mutual assistance.
Perhaps the cause is as simple as one individual—who previously worked in another area—not providing guidance to the person who is now doing their previous job. The lack of cooperative spirit can also be the result of an experienced resource allowing a recent hire learn things the hard way. Worst of all, it may involve three dangerous words: “Not my job.”
A lack of cooperation among team members is likely to cause significant challenges on any project. The following are three causes of, and potential solutions to, team dysfunctionality:
1. Dysfunctional Cause #1: A general lack of trust
The Oxford dictionary defines trust as “firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.” The issue with trust, however, is it often takes a very long time to develop—and can be destroyed in the blink of an eye.
Causes of distrust include:
- A natural behavior, perhaps developed during youth or within one’s culture
- Unsubstantiated gossip or rumors …
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