Friendly But Disengaged: Why Friendliness Isn't Enough for High-Performing Teams

We've all been there: a team environment that feels pleasant on the surface. Jokes are shared, coffee breaks are filled with laughter, and everyone seems to get along. But dig a little deeper, and you might find a surprising lack of engagement. Ideas go unspoken, problems fester beneath the surface, missed deadlines, and true innovation stalls. This is the paradox of the friendly but disengaged team – a group where psychological safety and accountability are missing. Psychological safety is the feeling that team members can take risks, speak up, and share ideas without fear of punishment or being judged by their skin colour, accent, and tribe. It's the difference between a group that goes through the motions and one that thrives on collaboration and innovation.

Let's see how these two types of teams differ:

The Friendly Team:

• Surface-level harmony: There's a focus on maintaining a positive atmosphere, often at the expense of honest discussions. They usually try to avoid conflicts instead of solving them head-on.
• Limited idea sharing: People hesitate to voice concerns or propose solutions for fear of rocking the boat or being seen as negative. Most times bad ideas win while good ones turn into jokes
• Hidden problems: Issues simmer beneath the surface, hindering progress and leading to frustration.
• Mediocre performance: The team gets by but lacks the spark to truly excel or innovate.
• Stagnant Innovation: Without honest challenges and diverse perspectives, the team might struggle to innovate or move beyond the status quo.

The Engaged Team

• Mutual trust and respect: Team members feel comfortable sharing ideas, even if they differ from the majority.
• Open communication: Honest feedback and constructive criticism are encouraged, leading to better decision-making.
• Problem-solving focus: Challenges are tackled head-on, leading to quicker solutions and improved results.
• High performance: The team is driven by a shared purpose and thrives on collaboration, consistently exceeding expectations.
• Innovation Engine: Diverse perspectives are valued, leading to a constant stream of creative ideas.

The Bridge: Building Psychological Safety

Transforming a friendly team into an engaged one requires fostering psychological safety.

Here are the four stages of Psychological safety:

1. Learners Safety (Growth): Team members feel comfortable asking questions, experimenting, learning from each other’s mistakes, and looking for new opportunities.
2. Challenger Safety (Improvement): Team members feel comfortable challenging the status quo if they identify changes that need to be made, even if those changes are unpopular or difficult. Team members are encouraged to speak up, expose problems, and manage conflicts. They are not afraid to share complex ideas and give negative feedback. This might be difficult for friendly team members to do.
3. Collaborator Safety (Impact): Team members participate in open dialogue, have mutual access to each other, and engage in constructive debates.
4. Inclusion Safety (Belonging): Team members feel valued. Everyone knows that their experience and ideas matter equally, regardless of their title or rank. Members are comfortable contributing to the group.

Here's how to foster Psychological Safety among your Team:

• Shared purpose: Clearly define the team's goals and why their work matters, fostering a sense of collective responsibility.
• Empower Ownership and Accountability: Clearly define each team member's roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations. This eliminates confusion and ensures everyone understands their contribution to success.
• Focus on strengths: Acknowledge and appreciate individual contributions, opinions, and approaches to solving problems and value creation.
• Encourage vulnerability: Create a space where it's safe to admit mistakes and learn from them, fostering a growth mindset.
• Acknowledge Achievements: Recognize and celebrate both individual and team accomplishments, regardless of scale. This reinforces positive behaviors and motivates continued effort.
• Team-Building Activities: Organize team-building activities to foster collaboration, communication, and a sense of camaraderie. This builds a stronger team spirit and improves overall morale.

By adopting these approaches, you can unlock the full potential of your team. This will empower them to transcend a friendly atmosphere and evolve into a high-performing team that consistently delivers outstanding results. Leaving mediocrity behind, they will be well-equipped to confront challenges and exceed expectations.