We all work in teams – at work, home, and in community groups. Very little of what we do, day to day, does not happen without people working together in some form or fashion. A team is merely a combination of people with varying interests, talents, and personalities – and every person on the team can enhance or detract from the overall functioning of the whole.
David Kantor developed a model that outlines four actions one may take on a team. They are to:
- Lead
- Follow
- Bystand
- Oppose
And each of these actions can be manifested in two different stances: negative or positive. Negative is reactive and damaging. Positive is proactive and helpful.
Here are my descriptions of each of the actions and stances:
| Action | Negative/Reactive | Positive/Proactive |
|
Takes the team off task. Creates factions. Source of disruption and dysfunction. Has a need to be the center of attention and action. Controlling. | Sets vision and direction. Moves the team to a better place. Is able to size up a situation and enable the team to respond appropriately. |
|
Blindly follows. Does what they are told to do with little personal thought or input. Proceeds, even with misgivings. (I was only following orders). | Supports the team by doing what needs to be done in an effective manner. Team player. Does the work of the team with minimal fuss. |
|
Little personal responsibility for actions or outcomes. Sits back and lets others make the decisions and do the work. | Keenly observes. Does not weigh in or detract the team if there is no value in doing so. Steps out of the way when needed. |
|
Confrontational. Refuses to let go of a point or own personal opinion. Alternatively, may not express opposition directly; instead does so in a passive/aggressive manner. | Expresses concerns and possible problems. Addresses tough issues. Brings forward different ideas and approaches. Comfortable in exploring alternatives. |
I’ve been taken by both the simplicity and the completeness of the model – and it helps me identify how I show up. I find that by keeping the model in mind, I can choose my actions with intention, so that the way I show up helps, rather than hinders, the team. It also enables me to both see and value other actions – especially those in bystander or opposing mode – two of the behaviors that I tend to get frustrated with.
So I’m curious – what action mode and stance are you exhibiting on the teams you are a part of? Are you stuck in one mode? Are there times you switch into a negative action? And what results might you (and the team) get if you consciously chose your action in alignment with the best outcome for the team?
