Team problem-solving can be divided into four distinct phases. The phases require different types of collaboration and thinking.
- Learning Together – Identify what we know, deciding what the problem is.
- Understanding the Problem – Coalescing information about the problem.
- Consensus about the solution.
- Evaluate and revise the solution.
If teams lack protocols for problem-solving, it can lead to excessive flux. This is when a team moves between the phases of problem-solving without making significant steps forward.
Flux leads to team entropy. Entropy leads to fatigue. Fatigue can create burnout or toxicity.
As with school culture, clarity can solve toxicity in teams too.