“No buy-in. People aren’t going to hold each other accountable if they haven’t clearly bought in to the same plan. Otherwise, it seems pointless because they’re just going to say, ‘I never agreed to that anyway.’”

Another tool that specifically relates to conflict is the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument, commonly referred to as the

But even after hiring and developing the right people, and getting them into the right roles, it all comes down to real people having the courage to sit down with one another and accepting the discomfort that is necessary to improve. I am glad to say that the rewards for teams who are willing to do this are as great as they have ever been. Maybe

Great teams ensure that everyone's ideas are genuinely considered, which then creates a willingness to rally around whatever decision is ultimately made by the group. And when that is not possible due to an impasse, the leader of the team is allowed to make the call.

The most important action that a leader must take to encourage the building of trust on a team is to demonstrate vulnerability first. This requires that a leader risk losing face in front of the team, so that subordinates will take the same risk themselves.

“Great teams are honest with one another,” she said. “They are unafraid to air their dirty laundry. They admit their mistakes, their weaknesses, and their concerns without fear of reprisal.”

“During the next two weeks I am going to be pretty intolerant of behavior that demonstrates an absence of trust, or a focus on individual ego. I will be encouraging conflict, driving for clear commitments, and expecting all of you to hold each other accountable.

____ 15. Team members are slow to seek credit for their own contributions, but quick to point out those of others. For those interested in a more rigorous analysis of team performance. The Table Group offers a comprehensive Online Team Assessment. The Online Team Assessment provides customized data outlining a team's strengths and weaknesses,

the team to serve as the first and primary accountability mechanism.