Dysfunctional teams

The concept of dysfunctional teams has been a topic of interest in organisational psychology and management research for decades. A dysfunctional team is characterised by a group of individuals who struggle to work together effectively, leading to suboptimal performance, decreased productivity, and a negative impact on the overall well-being of team members. The term “dysfunctional team” is often used interchangeably with “ineffective team” or “underperforming team,” emphasising the team’s inability to achieve its goals and objectives.

Dysfunctional patterns can lead to can lead to a toxic work environment, characterised by low morale, high turnover rates, and a lack of collaboration and innovation. Understanding the root causes of team dysfunction is crucial for managers and leaders who aim to foster a positive and productive work environment, as well as for researchers seeking to develop interventions and strategies to mitigate the negative effects of dysfunctional teams.

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Key features of dysfunctional teams

  1. Poor communication: often experience a lack of open, honest, and clear communication among team members, leading to misunderstandings, confusion, and a breakdown in collaboration [The Impact of Poor Communication on Team Performance, Hunley et al, 2018].
  2. Lack of trust: When team members do not trust each other, they are less likely to share information, ideas, and resources, which can hinder problem-solving and decision-making processes [The Role of Trust in Teams].
  3. Unresolved conflicts: may have ongoing, unresolved conflicts that create tension, resentment, and a toxic work environment [Conflict Management in Teams, Singh& Anthony 2019].
  4. Unclear roles and responsibilities: When team members are unsure of their roles and responsibilities, it can lead to duplication of efforts, missed deadlines, and a lack of accountability.
  5. Ineffective leadership: often have leaders who fail to provide clear direction, support, and feedback, leading to a lack of motivation and engagement among team members [Team Dynamics].
  6. Lack of cohesion: may lack a sense of unity and shared purpose, resulting in individuals working in silos rather than collaborating towards common goals [Group Cohesion and Performance: A Meta-Analysis 1991].
  7. Poor problem-solving skills: may struggle to effectively identify, analyse, and solve problems, leading to suboptimal decision-making and reduced performance.
  8. Resistance to change: may be resistant to change and innovation, preferring to maintain the status quo even when it is no longer effective [How to deal with team resistance, Lawrence 1969].

Explanatory factors

Lack of Self-Awareness in Dysfunctional Teams:
One of the most significant challenges in addressing dysfunctional teams is that they often fail to recognise their own dysfunctionality. This lack of self-awareness can be attributed to several factors, including groupthink, denial, and the normalisation of dysfunctional behaviours.

Groupthink:
Groupthink occurs when team members prioritise consensus and harmony over critical thinking and constructive dissent, leading to poor decision-making and a failure to recognise problems. In dysfunctional teams, groupthink can prevent members from acknowledging and addressing issues such as poor communication, lack of trust, and unresolved conflicts.

Denial:
Denial is another factor that can contribute to a team’s inability to recognise its own dysfunctionality. Team members may be reluctant to admit that problems exist, either because they fear the consequences of acknowledging them or because they have become accustomed to the status quo. This denial can be reinforced by a culture that discourages open communication and feedback, making it difficult for team members to voice concerns or suggest improvements.

Normalisation of Dysfunctional Behaviours:
Over time, dysfunctional behaviours and patterns can become normalised within a team, making it even harder for members to recognise that there is a problem [The Normalisation of Deviance and Its Impact on Team Effectiveness, Cassar 2023]. When poor communication, lack of trust, and unresolved conflicts become the norm, team members may come to see these issues as inevitable or even acceptable, rather than as barriers to effective collaboration and performance.

Cognitive Biases Explaining Dysfunctional Teams:

Dunning-Kruger Effect:
The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias that helps explain why some dysfunctional teams may fail to recognise their own shortcomings. This effect occurs when individuals with low ability in a particular domain overestimate their competence, while those with high ability tend to underestimate their competence. In the context of dysfunctional teams, this can manifest as members believing they are performing well, despite evidence to the contrary.

Illusory Superiority Bias:
Another related concept is the illusory superiority bias, which refers to the tendency for individuals to overestimate their own abilities and performance relative to others. In dysfunctional teams, this bias can lead to members believing that their contributions are more valuable than those of their colleagues, leading to a lack of collaboration and a failure to recognise the team’s collective shortcomings.

False Consensus Effect:
The false consensus effect is another cognitive bias that can contribute to a team’s inability to recognise its own dysfunctionality. This effect occurs when individuals overestimate the extent to which others share their beliefs, opinions, and behaviours [The False Consensus Effect: An Egocentric Bias in Social Perception and Attribution Processes, Ross et al., 1977]. In dysfunctional teams, this can lead to members assuming that their own dysfunctional behaviours and attitudes are shared by others, making it less likely that they will recognise or challenge these patterns. [Kendra Cherry, August 11, 2023]

Preventative and fostering measures

Overcoming Lack of Self-Awareness:
To overcome this lack of self-awareness, organisations must foster a culture of openness, psychological safety, and continuous improvement. By encouraging team members to speak up, share feedback, and challenge the status quo, organisations can help dysfunctional teams recognise their own issues and take steps to address them. Additionally, providing training and support for team members to develop skills in communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving can help teams become more self-aware and proactive in identifying and addressing dysfunctional patterns [Interventions for Improving Team Functioning, Martina Buljac-Samardzic et al 2023].

Mitigating Cognitive Biases:
To mitigate the impact of these cognitive biases, organisations can implement strategies such as seeking external feedback, promoting diversity of thought, and encouraging constructive dissent. By creating an environment that values objectivity, self-reflection, and continuous improvement, organisations can help dysfunctional teams become more aware of their own limitations and take steps to address them.

Developing Metacognitive Skills:
Additionally, providing training and support for team members to develop metacognitive skills – the ability to think about one’s own thinking – can help them become more aware of their own biases and limitations. By encouraging team members to regularly reflect on their own thought processes and behaviours, organisations can foster a culture of self-awareness and continuous improvement, ultimately helping dysfunctional teams recognise and address their own issues.

Radical action

When an organisation is faced with an extremely dysfunctional team that is beyond repair or remediation, it may need to take more drastic measures to address the situation. These measures can be difficult and disruptive, but they may be necessary to prevent the dysfunctional team from negatively impacting the organisation as a whole.

Team Dissolution:
In some cases, the best course of action may be to dissolve the dysfunctional team entirely. This can involve reassigning team members to other projects or departments, or even letting go of individuals who are contributing to the team’s dysfunction. While this can be a difficult decision, it may be necessary to prevent the dysfunctional team from causing further harm to the organisation.

Restructuring:
Another option is to restructure the team, either by changing its composition or by redefining its goals and objectives. This can involve bringing in new team members with different skills and perspectives, or reassigning existing team members to different roles that better suit their strengths. By reshaping the team’s structure and purpose, organisations can sometimes salvage a dysfunctional team and set it on a new course.

Leadership Change:
In some cases, the root cause of a team’s dysfunction may lie with its leadership. If a team leader is contributing to the team’s problems or is unable to effectively address them, it may be necessary to replace them with a new leader who can provide the guidance and support the team needs. This can be a sensitive and challenging process, but it may be necessary to get the team back on track.

Escalation:
If a dysfunctional team’s behaviour is particularly egregious or is causing significant harm to the organisation, it may be necessary to escalate the issue to higher levels of management or even to external authorities. This can involve reporting the team’s behaviour to HR, filing formal complaints, or even taking legal action in extreme cases.

Learning from Failure:
Finally, it is important for organisations to view the failure of a dysfunctional team as an opportunity for learning and growth. By conducting a thorough post-mortem analysis of what went wrong and why, organisations can identify the root causes of the team’s dysfunction and develop strategies to prevent similar problems from occurring in the future. This can involve updating policies and procedures, providing additional training and support for team members, or making changes to the organisation’s culture and values.

Ultimately, dealing with extremely dysfunctional teams requires a combination of decisive action, careful analysis, and a commitment to continuous improvement. By being proactive in identifying and addressing dysfunctional patterns, organisations can minimise the impact of these teams and create a more positive and productive work environment for all.

Organisational Responsibility for Dysfunctional Teams

When a team becomes extremely dysfunctional, to require radical action it often reflects a broader failure of management and organisational culture. Dysfunctional teams don’t emerge in a vacuum; they are often the product of systemic issues that permeate the entire organisation.

Management Responsibility
Ultimately, it is the responsibility of an organisation’s leadership to create an environment that supports and enables effective teamwork. When managers fail to provide clear goals, resources, and support, or when they tolerate or even encourage dysfunctional behaviours, they create the conditions for teams to fail. If a team becomes extremely dysfunctional, it suggests that management has not been effective in setting expectations, monitoring performance, and intervening when necessary.

Organisational Culture
The culture of an organisation also plays a significant role in the emergence of dysfunctional teams. If an organisation’s culture values individual achievement over collaboration, or if it tolerates unethical or abusive behaviour, it can create an environment where dysfunctional teams are more likely to emerge. Similarly, if an organisation’s culture is characterised by a lack of accountability, poor communication, or a resistance to change, it can make it difficult for teams to function effectively.

Lack of Oversight
When management fails to provide adequate oversight and support for teams, it can allow dysfunctional patterns to take root and spread. If teams are left to their own devices without regular check-ins, performance evaluations, or feedback, it can be difficult to identify and address problems before they escalate. This lack of oversight can also signal to team members that their behaviour is acceptable, even if it is actually harming the team and the organisation.

Systemic Challenges
In some cases, the challenges facing a dysfunctional team may be symptomatic of broader issues within the organisation, such as resource constraints, competing priorities, or external pressures. If an organisation is facing significant financial or operational challenges, it can create a stressful and uncertain environment that makes it difficult for teams to function effectively. In these cases, addressing the underlying systemic issues may be necessary to support the success of individual teams.

Organisational Learning:
Finally, it is important for organisations to view the emergence of dysfunctional teams as an opportunity for learning and growth. By conducting a thorough analysis of the factors that contributed to a team’s dysfunction, organisations can identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to prevent similar problems from occurring in the future. This may involve providing additional training and support for managers, updating policies and procedures, or making changes to the organisation’s culture and values.

Summary and conclusions

The concept of dysfunctional teams has been a topic of interest in organisational psychology and management research for decades. Dysfunctional teams are characterised by a group of individuals who struggle to work together effectively, leading to suboptimal performance, decreased productivity, and a negative impact on the overall well-being of team members. Various factors can contribute to the development of a dysfunctional team, including poor communication, lack of trust, unresolved conflicts, unclear roles and responsibilities, ineffective leadership, lack of cohesion, poor problem-solving skills, and resistance to change. These factors can become entrenched in a team’s culture and dynamics over time, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of dysfunction.

One of the most significant challenges in addressing dysfunctional teams is that they often fail to recognise their own dysfunctionality. This lack of self-awareness can be attributed to several factors, including groupthink, denial, and the normalisation of dysfunctional behaviours. Additionally, cognitive biases such as the Dunning-Kruger effect, illusory superiority bias, and false consensus effect can contribute to a team’s inability to recognise its own shortcomings. To overcome these challenges, organisations must foster a culture of openness, psychological safety, and continuous improvement, while providing training and support for team members to develop skills in communication, conflict resolution, problem-solving, and metacognition.

When an organisation is faced with an extremely dysfunctional team that is beyond repair or remediation, it may need to take more drastic measures such as team dissolution, restructuring, leadership change, or escalation to higher levels of management. However, it is crucial for management to recognise that the emergence of dysfunctional teams often reflects a broader failure of organisational culture and leadership. By taking responsibility for their role in the team’s failure, conducting a thorough analysis of the contributing factors, and developing a comprehensive plan for addressing the root causes, management can promote organisational learning and growth. Ultimately, by creating a culture of trust, accountability, and resilience, organisations can unlock the full potential of their teams and achieve sustainable success in an increasingly complex and dynamic business environment.