top of page

Team Health Check: The 5 Dysfunctions

Quick Diagnostic Tool for Animal Shelter Teams

Identify Where Your Team Is Struggling

If your team shows this…

​​

People don’t speak up, avoid asking questions, or hide mistakes

Dysfunction: Absence of Trust


Your Action:

  • Create a safe environment

  • Admit when you are wrong

  • Admit when you don’t have answers

  • Ask questions

If your team shows this…

​

People avoid disagreement or don’t challenge ideas


Dysfunction: Fear of Conflict


Your Action:

  • Encourage respectful discussion

  • Include everyone in conversations

  • Create space to address problems openly

If your team shows this…

​

Lack of clarity or buy-in on decisions and goals


Dysfunction: Lack of Commitment


Your Action:

  • Involve team members in decision-making

  • Ensure clear goals and expectations

If your team shows this…

​

People avoid holding each other accountable


Dysfunction: Avoidance of Accountability


Your Action:

  • Promote peer-to-peer accountability

  • Reinforce responsibility for work

If your team shows this…

​

Focus shifts away from team goals or outcomes


Dysfunction: Inattention to Results


Your Action:

  • Keep focus on shared goals

  • Reinforce that the team exists to achieve results

Why This Matters in Animal Welfare

Poor team functioning can lead to low job satisfaction and staff turnover
Strong teams improve retention, collaboration, and mission success.

If trust is missing, the rest of the team will struggle.
Start by building trust, then strengthen the rest of the team behaviors

REFERENCES

Lencioni, P. (2002)The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. Jossey-Bass

​

Powell, L. (2021). Study on veterinarian retention in animal shelters.

bottom of page