When Bad Teams Happen to Good People

No one sets out to have a bad team. So why do so many teams struggle with apathy, trust issues, poor communication, and lack of direction?

In my 15 years of working with teams, I know that most people are smart and capable, and they genuinely want to contribute. They understand that they can achieve more as part of a team, than alone; they truly believe that there is no ‘I’ in ‘team.’

So how do things go south?

Why does John always focus on the big picture but ignores the details? Why is Susan so slow to make decisions? Why do some team members over-process information, and others strongly prefer to work independently?

I can tell you that all the ropes courses and happy hours in the world won’t change a thing until you build real trust and understanding on a team. You don’t leave your biases, life experiences, and opinions at the door when you arrive at work. Differences DO make us stronger – the key is understanding and accepting. Trust is built when employees know and understand their own personal style. Teams are most successful when they work together and leverage each other’s natural talents and behaviors.

The DiSC model does provide a common language that people and teams can use to better understand themselves and each other. I believe in it because I have seen it transform teams for more than 15 years.

Trust me, it is worth the effort, the time, and yes, the expense, to do this deep dive. The results are real, nearly immediate, and sustainable over the long haul. It tears down walls. It destroys prejudices and eliminates those pre-conceived notions. It creates understanding where there was once frustration.

Using scientifically proven assessments, classroom facilitation, and post-training follow-up, DiSC provides every team member unbiased language to talk about who they are, their strengths and weaknesses, and their value to the team. It’s a completely neutral, non-judgmental way to understand people’s behavioral differences, improve communication and the ability to give crucial feedback, and therefore to build trust on the team.

Interested in finding out more? PRC is hosting a DISC certification event this September/October in Denver. Space is limited and you’ll receive fun extras if you register early. For more information, visit https://disccertificationonline.com/