HBR IdeaCast
Dysfunctional Leadership Teams — and How to Fix Them
Sep 3, 2024
In this talk, Thomas Keil, a management professor at the University of Zurich, and Marianna Zangrillo, a partner at The Next Advisors, dive into the hidden struggles of leadership teams. They share insights from over 100 interviews with CEOs, revealing three dysfunction types: shark tanks, petting zoos, and mediocracies. The conversation highlights how these dynamics can undermine performance, and they offer practical strategies to foster trust, encourage accountability, and transform team effectiveness for better organizational success.
22:43
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Quick takeaways
- Leadership teams can fall into three dysfunction patterns: intense competition, conflict avoidance, or complacency, which undermine organizational success.
- To rectify dysfunction, leaders should foster an environment of trust and open dialogue while actively addressing early signs of team issues.
Deep dives
Patterns of Leadership Dysfunction
Leadership teams often exhibit one of three main dysfunction patterns: intense competition, extreme conflict avoidance, or complacency. In the competitive scenario, infighting and political maneuvering can significantly undermine cooperation necessary for organizational success. The second pattern involves teams that avoid conflict altogether, leading to a lack of innovation and energy, as team members fail to challenge each other. Lastly, complacency occurs when teams focus too heavily on past successes without striving for current excellence, which can lead to stagnation and mediocrity.
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