Activity: Turning Dysfunctional Teams Around

School Curriculum Chaos 

(Lack of Clear Communication)

The Silent Staff Meetings 

(Absence of Trust & Psychological Safety)

The Teacher Training That Never Happens 

(Lack of Accountability & Follow-Through)

The Outdated Teaching Methods Debate 

(Resistance to Change & Problem-Solving Failures)

Objective:
Participants will analyze real-world examples of dysfunctional teams, identify key breakdowns in communication, trust, accountability, and adaptability, and propose innovative solutions for transforming these teams into high-functioning groups.

Materials Needed:

• Handout: When Teams Fail (Participants will focus on key sections)

• Flip chart paper or digital collaboration tools

• Markers or virtual whiteboards

• Discussion guide (optional for facilitators)

Group Size:

• Small groups of 4 participants per team

Time Required:

• 30-40 minutes total

  • 5 minutes for reading the assigned section

  • 10 minutes for discussion and key takeaways

  • 10 minutes to create a "Turnaround Strategy" pitch

  • 10-15 minutes for group presentations and debriefing

Instructions:

1. Assign Groups & Distribute Handout (5 min)

   • Divide participants into small groups of 4.

   • Assign each group one case study from When Teams Fail to analyze:

     • Lack of Clear Communication (School Curriculum Chaos)

     • Absence of Trust & Psychological Safety (The Silent Staff Meetings)

     • Lack of Accountability & Follow-Through (The Teacher Training That Never Happens)

     • Resistance to Change & Problem-Solving Failures (The Outdated Teaching Methods Debate)

   • Each group reads their assigned case study individually or together.

2. Discussion & Identifying Key Takeaways (10 min)

   • Each group answers the following questions:

     • What were the warning signs of dysfunction in your case study?

     • How did these issues impact the team’s performance?

     • What were the root causes of the dysfunction?

3. Create a "Turnaround Strategy" Pitch (10 min)

   • Each group develops a strategy to turn the dysfunctional team around.

   • Their pitch should include:

     • A step-by-step plan for transformation.

     • Key leadership and team-building strategies to improve dynamics.

     • How to apply high-functioning team characteristics to the scenario.

   • Teams can present their turnaround plan as:

     • A flip chart summary

     • A short role-play or skit

     • A creative infographic or mind map

4. Group Presentations & Debrief (10-15 min)

   • Each group presents their turnaround strategy to the room.

   • Encourage discussion: What innovative solutions stood out?

   • Facilitator leads a debrief discussion with prompts:

     • Which turnaround strategies could realistically be applied to our teams?

     • What makes some strategies more effective than others?

     • How do we proactively prevent dysfunction in teams?

Facilitator Notes:

• Encourage creativity! Teams should think outside the box when designing their turnaround strategy.

• Give groups the flexibility to present their solutions in an engaging way (skits, infographics, pitches, etc.).

• Highlight key leadership and team-building strategies that resonate throughout all presentations.

Conclusion:
This activity encourages participants to not just identify dysfunction but to develop real-world solutions for overcoming it. By proposing innovative turnaround strategies, participants gain hands-on experience in transforming struggling teams into successful ones.