Teamwork Toxins and Antidotes

A little bit of toxin goes a long way when it comes to derailing teamwork.

Some examples of common teamwork toxins include:

• Absenteeism

• Aggressiveness

• Backbiting

• Binary thinking

• Blame

• Bullying

• Conflict avoidance

• Contempt

• Defensiveness

• Denial

• Disorganization

• Favoritism

• Gossiping

• Lack of communication

• Making excuses

• Narcissism

• Passiveness

• Pessimism

• Politicking

• Procrastination

• Sandbagging

• Shame

• Short-termism

• Stonewalling

• Suspicion

• Undercutting

When teams turn toxic, there are antidotes. Typically, the most powerful antidotes include a combination of some of the following:

• Accountability

• Acknowledgement

• Assertiveness

• Authenticity

• Belonging

• Caring

• Clarity

• Communication

• Compassion

• Connection

• Courage

• Curiosity

• Embracing possibility

• Equality

• Empathy

• Flexibility

• Generosity

• Humility

• Inclusion

• Integrity

• Kindness

• Leadership

• Listening

• Long-term thinking

• Optimism

• Organization

• Patience

• Perspective-taking

• Process

• Psychological safety

• Respect

• Responsibility

• Shared purpose

• Sincerity

• Transparency

• Trust

Team dysfunction leads to devastation. If you notice or suspect toxins, don’t hesitate to reach for antidotes.