Write your search in the input below and press enter.
Esc to close.

The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich

Peak Performance:
Not Just for Sports, for Life

  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
    • Recent
    • Athletes
    • Coaching
    • Sports Parenting
    • Sports Administrators
    • Life
    • Administrators
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Products
    • Toolkits
    • Audio
    • Books
    • Videos
    • Apps
  • Services
  • Chalk Talk
  • About Dr. Stankovich
  • Testimonials
  • Contact

Hello. Sign In

My Account
  • Login
  • Register
0
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk
Subscribe
The Sports Doc Chalk Talk with Dr. Chris Stankovich
  • Recent
  • Athletes
  • Coaching
  • Sports Parenting
  • Life
  • Administrators
Home / Blog / The Top 5 Reasons Why Teams Experience Dysfunction

The Top 5 Reasons Why Teams Experience Dysfunction

By: Dr. Chris Stankovich | @DrStankovich | Jan 28, 2019

No Comments

There are a number of reasons why teams fail to live up to their potential, but many of the problems tend to fall into the same general categories.  When teams pull together and share the same goals, often the team overachieves beyond what others would have predicted.  Conversely, an otherwise talented team expected to win can under-perform when team division and dissension emerge.  Raw talent certainly contributes toward team success, but it isn’t the only variable — and in some cases may not even be the most important.  The big question every coach faces, therefore, is how to get the most with what he or she has on the team.

The top 5 reasons why teams experience dysfunction

  1. Poor attitude from the top.  If the coach gives the impression he or she isn’t invested, how can you expect the team to be excited?  Remember, attitude is a choice, and it’s a vitally important one for coaches who want to lead a successful team.  Coaches who appear to be bored, lacking focus, disinterested, or simply tired run the risk of their players giving back those same exact qualities.
  2. Lack of vision/goals.  How do you know where you are going if you haven’t taken time to set goals?  I find that coaches who lose their team often do so by not having any roadmap for the team to follow, creating a “me-first” attitude on the team.
  3. Players in the wrong positions.  While it may take patience, it’s incredibly important for coaches to objectively evaluate each player so that they are in the right positions.  Players need to own their position, and feel as though if they missed a game or practice the entire team would suffer without their unique contributions.
  4. No buy-in from players.  Do the players on your team buy into the coach’s vision, philosophy, and expectations?  Do they think the coach is authentic and genuine, and will always have their back?  Teams that buy-in give maximum effort, while those that don’t tend to check out.
  5. Players thrown under the bus.  Great coaches never blame players publicly, and always shoulder the blame whenever possible.  Poor coaches, on the other hand, immediately dismiss their errors and mistakes, and instead point outward to team members.

Final thoughts

Coaches can make — or break — the overall success of the team.  Coaches who take the time to develop relationships, lead by example, and stick up for players generally develop trust and respect from the team — qualities often witnessed on winning teams.  As the old saying goes your players don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care, illustrating the importance of developing positive relationships whenever possible.

drstankovich.com

building, climate, cohesion, culture, Leadership, psychology, sport, team, winning

  • Author
  • Comments
  • Details
Get to Know the Author

Dr. Chris Stankovich

Dr. Stankovich has written/co-written five books, including Positive Transitions for Student Athletes, The ParentsPlaybook, Mind of Steel.

Latest Blog Posts

  • May 23, 2023 Breaking Down the Stages of Youth Sports
  • May 16, 2023 Mental Health Tips to Help Kids Avoid Sport Burnout
  • May 10, 2023 Watch for these Issues with Kids Playing Multiple Sports During Same Season
  • May 4, 2023 Understanding the Importance of a Balanced Athletic Identity for Kids
  • April 27, 2023 Turning Hope into Belief: The Psychology of Success

PREVIOUS POST

Think Good, Think Bad: Either Way, the Choice is YOURS

NEXT POST

Keeping the Games Safe for Kids & Officials

Category

Amateur , Athletes , Athletic Counseling , Coach , Coaching , Communicating with Coach , Leadership and Role Modeling , Mental Toughness , Performance Enhancement , Playing Time , Prep , Sport Philosophy , Sport Psychology , Sports Leadership , Sports Performance Science , Uncategorized , Youth Sports

Tags

building, climate, cohesion, culture, Leadership, psychology, sport, team, winning

  • Recent Posts
  • Most Read
  • Breaking Down the Stages of Youth Sports
  • Mental Health Tips to Help Kids Avoid Sport Burnout
  • Watch for these Issues with Kids Playing Multiple Sports During Same Season
  • Understanding the Importance of a Balanced Athletic Identity for Kids
  • Turning Hope into Belief: The Psychology of Success
  • Morning Sports Practice Before School is Becoming the Norm, but is this Healthy for Kids?
  • Nature or Nurture? Exploring the Psychology of Sport Success
  • 3 Important Tips for Today's Multi-Sport, Youth Sport Athlete
  • Understanding Intelligence: Putting Knowledge into ACTION!
  • Breaking Down the Stages of Youth Sports
  • The Sports Doc on TV

    Catch Dr. Stankovich’s tv, radio, and print interviews and columns here!

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Watch Videos
  • Sport Performance Assessment

    Dr. Chris Stankovich Quickly and accurately test your level of mental toughness in just a few minutes using the Sport Performance Assessment.

    (SPA), an easy-to-use sport psychology system specially designed to help you REACH YOUR FULL ATHLETIC POTENTIAL.

    learn more
  • SportsSuccess360

    Life strategies for performance and character development for coaches, parents, and student athletes competing in youth and interscholastic sports.

    Life Strategies learn more
  • Contact Dr. Stankovich

    1395 Grandview Avenue Suite 6, Columbus OH 43212

    (614) 561-4482
    Media & General Inquiries
    information@drstankovich.com
    Sales & Product Support
    sales@drstankovich.com
  • About Dr. Stankovich

    • Media
    • Blog
    • Testimonials
  • Products

    • Toolkits
    • Videos
    • Books
    • Audio
    • iPhone Apps
  • Services

    • Athlete Performance Training
    • Parent Community Forum
    • Coach Education & Development
    • Athletic Crisis Response and Intervention
    • Drug & Alcohol Assessment
    • Life Success Programs
    • Counseling & Consulting Services
  • Blog
  • YouTube
  • twitter
  • facebook

All rights reserved © 2023 Advanced Human Performance Systems™

↓ ↓