Have you ever worked on a team where no one seemed to be rowing in the same direction? Where meetings felt like chaos, communication was murky, and momentum stalled at every turn?Despite decades of leadership training and corporate development programs, most teams today are underperforming. And while the symptoms may vary—low morale, lack of accountability, toxic culture—the root causes tend to repeat themselves.
In over 20 years of coaching athletic and corporate teams, I’ve seen the same five core reasons why teams fail. The good news? Every single one is fixable with the right leadership approach.
Here are the five most common reasons teams fail—and how to build a team that wins.
1. No Shared Vision
Teams that don’t know what they’re working toward can’t move in the same direction. Without a shared vision, even the most talented individuals operate in silos.
In sports, this would be like players entering a game with no playbook. They hustle, they move—but they’re not aligned. In business, the same confusion leads to wasted effort and strategic drift.
Fix: As a leader, it’s your job to overcommunicate the mission, goals, and success criteria. Make sure everyone knows what “winning” looks like and how their role contributes.
2. Broken Communication
Communication breakdowns erode trust and teamwork. This includes unclear messaging, withheld information, passive-aggressive behavior, and a lack of listening.
When communication is broken, conflict festers, collaboration stalls, and feedback loops disappear. The result? Missed deadlines, poor execution, and interpersonal tension.
Fix: Build communication rituals and norms. Encourage candor, set clear expectations around response times, and model active listening in every meeting.
3. Unclear Roles or Goals
Ambiguity is a silent killer of productivity. If team members aren’t sure what they’re supposed to do, or how success is measured, performance suffers.
This leads to duplication of efforts, dropped balls, and the dreaded phrase: “That’s not my job.”
Fix: Use a role clarity matrix. Conduct team goal-setting sessions. Ensure every individual has a defined scope of responsibility and understands how it connects to the broader mission.
4. Culture of Blame or Negativity
You can’t build a high-performance team in a toxic culture. Negativity, gossip, blame-shifting, and passive resistance are symptoms of deeper issues.
Even strong performers disengage when they don’t feel psychologically safe or valued.
Fix: Create a recognition system. Build in peer-to-peer praise rituals. Foster a coaching culture that focuses on growth, not punishment. Culture must be intentional—or it becomes accidental.
5. Poor Leadership (or Overleadership)
Sometimes leaders are absent, unclear, or conflict-avoidant. Other times they’re overly controlling, micromanaging every move.
Both extremes stifle performance and morale.
Fix: Learn to flex between directive and participative leadership styles. Great leaders coach more than they command. They empower others, build confidence, and create momentum.
How to Build a Team That Wins
A championship team isn’t just built on talent—it’s built on trust, alignment, and motivation. Here’s a simplified framework I use when working with teams to turn dysfunction into performance:
The Team Performance Framework
1. Clarity – Everyone knows the goal, the strategy, and their role.
2. Communication – Regular, open, respectful communication is the norm.
3. Culture – Trust, respect, and shared values shape how the team shows up.
4. Coaching – Leaders focus on development, feedback, and long-term growth.
One client I worked with saw a 20% improvement in engagement within 90 days of shifting to this model. The transformation started with a leadership mindset shift—from “managing work” to “coaching people.”
The Coach’s Checklist for Team Success
Want a quick gut check? Here’s your leadership scoreboard:
- ✅ Does every team member know the mission and metrics?
- ✅ Are roles and responsibilities clearly defined?
- ✅ Is communication open, timely, and respectful?
- ✅ Are wins celebrated and failures debriefed constructively?
- ✅ Are you leading like a coach—or managing like a boss?
Final Thoughts
Every failing team has the potential to become a winning one—with the right leadership.
These five dysfunctions are common, but they don’t have to be permanent. With clarity, communication, culture, and coaching, you can build a team that not only performs but thrives.
“Leadership isn’t about being in charge. It’s about creating an environment where people choose to bring their best.”
Our free Team Performance Checklist will help assess where you think your team is at and also give you some diagnostic direction if you fell your team is struggling.
Want help diagnosing your team’s roadblocks?
- 💬 Book a free consult to explore a team-building session or keynote for your organization.
- 🔗 Download the free “Team Performance Checklist.”
Let’s build something championship-worthy.
— Vilis Ozols
