How to Fix a Broken Team – Start HERE!

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Last Updated on November 25, 2024 by Bill Truby

You’ve decided to fix your team. It’s your first day to act on that decision. What do you do?

First, recognize that people problems rank as the number one leadership challenge. You’re not alone. Team dynamics and performance is the single biggest obstacle to smooth operations, seamless achievement, and lasting business success. Yet, most leaders lack the training, insights, or tools to solve this deeply rooted problem. And here’s the catch: teams don’t fix themselves; leaders do. When leaders address these challenges head-on, they don’t just improve workflow—they unlock the full potential of their teams and drive real results. But how to do that?

Problem solved. For over four decades, Truby Achievements, Inc. has been implementing a commonsense approach to fixing teams. And it works – every time.

We’ve noticed, and you probably have too, that most teams fit into one of three general categories: dysfunctional, stagnate, or “good enough.” The following process, which is the foundation of the Truby Management System, fixes dysfunction, ignites stagnation, and develops “good enough” teams into GREAT ones!

So, what do you do on this first day to take action to fix your team?

First, don’t focus on the problems in your people. Trying to fix the negative symptoms in your team will cause you to play “Wack-a-mole.” Don’t do that. Instead, focus on what you want, and build that. You don’t play a piano better by trying to stop making mistakes. You play better by practicing what you want. It’s the same with teams. People problems aren’t fixed by fixing the problems. It’s always been true; people problems are always eliminated by installing high-performing team dynamics. You do that and the people problems are crowded out. Remember, darkness automatically vanishes in the presence of light.

So, on your first day to act, don’t do anything to, or with, the team. Get YOUR head right first. Read this article, then make a plan – before you act. You will KNOW what to do because this process IS your path. This content IS your solution. This commonsense sequence of action steps WILL make the difference. Let’s dive in and learn!

Phase One: Transform – Laying the Foundation for Success

Every journey begins with a first step, and when it comes to building a high-performing team, that first step is transformation. In the Truby Management System, the Transform phase focuses on laying the foundational elements that will empower your team to work together cohesively, build trust, and develop a sense of shared purpose. Without this foundation, no amount of strategy, goals, or systems will create the results you’re after.

But what does transformation really mean in a team context? It’s about taking individual contributors and turning them into a high-performing, united team. This transformation begins with the essential human connection—bonding. When your team members bond, they understand each other’s strengths and weaknesses. They develop trust, which eliminates the common barriers like gossip, miscommunication, or competition. This bond becomes the glue that holds your team together, allowing them to tackle any challenge collaboratively.

The Truby Management System starts here because without trust and bonding, nothing else works. Leaders often think their team just needs better systems or clearer goals, but in reality, the lack of interpersonal connection is usually at the heart of dysfunction. By focusing on transformation, you’re not just changing the way your team works—you’re changing the way they relate to one another. You’re creating a space where collaboration flourishes, and where people genuinely care about the team’s success.

The Transform phase also incorporates agreements—the rules by which your team will operate. These aren’t top-down mandates. Instead, these are mutual agreements that the team collectively creates, ensuring everyone knows how to communicate, handle conflict, and support one another. These agreements lay the groundwork for everything that comes next, enabling the team to operate in alignment rather than chaos.

Transformation is about creating a shift—not just in how your team works, but in how they think and feel. Once this foundation is in place, your team will be ready to take on the challenges ahead with confidence and unity.

Truby Management System Steps for Phase One: Transform

• Bonding
• Agreements

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Phase Two: Organize – Creating Clarity and Accountability

Once your team has bonded and built a foundation of trust, the next phase in the Truby Management System is Organize. Organization brings clarity to roles, responsibilities, and communication flows, which are crucial for moving from chaos to a well-oiled machine. You can have the most bonded team in the world, but without clarity, people will struggle to know exactly what’s expected of them and how to contribute to the team’s success.

In this phase, you will define roles and create an organizational chart that clearly shows who is responsible for what. This is more than just a title or a list of tasks—it’s about understanding the purpose of each role and how it fits into the bigger picture. When your team understands not only their own role but also the roles of their colleagues, you create a system of mutual accountability. Everyone knows who to turn to when a problem arises, and there’s no confusion over who’s responsible for what.

Clarity breeds confidence. When your team has clearly defined roles, they can operate with confidence, knowing they are focusing on the right tasks and contributing in meaningful ways. This reduces stress, minimizes mistakes, and ensures that every team member is pulling their weight. With the expectations of each role clearly outlined, performance improves and friction decreases. People know how their work fits into the larger goals of the company, and this alignment fuels motivation and efficiency.

The Organize phase isn’t just about assigning tasks—it’s about creating a culture of ownership and accountability. Every person on the team should feel a sense of responsibility for their work and be able to trust that their colleagues will uphold their end of the bargain. Organization empowers your team to operate smoothly, with each member playing their part in the overall success of the business.

Truby Management System Steps for Phase Two: Organize

• Structure
• Expectations

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Phase Three: Mobilize – Turning Strategy into Action

With trust established and roles clearly defined, your team is now ready to mobilize. This is where the rubber meets the road, and where all the groundwork you’ve laid begins to pay off. In the Mobilize phase, you’ll align your team around the company’s core value—the unique offering that makes your business stand out from the competition—and set actionable goals that move your team toward delivering that value consistently.

Identifying your company’s unique value is the key to standing out in the marketplace and guiding your team’s actions. A company value is not simply what product or service you offer but the specific benefit that your customers seek from your business. It is what makes your business attractive and unique, often explained as a “USP” – Unique Selling Proposition.

For instance, a mini-mart’s true value isn’t high-quality goods or a vast selection; it’s the time-saving convenience that customers rely on. They appreciate being able to make a quick stop without unnecessary delays. Similarly, a design firm may realize its value lies in managing interactions with regulatory agencies and the public, making complex projects smoother for clients who don’t want to deal with red tape – not “innovative design” that is the coveted reputation for most architects. For a hardware store, the core value might be the knowledge its team provides to guide homeowners through their projects—offering more than just the supplies but also expertise. A hotel/casino may excel by understanding and catering to a specific guest segment, creating tailored experiences that keep their clientele returning. When your team understands and delivers on their unique value, it provides a compelling reason for customers to choose your business over others.

But this phase is more than just defining what your team offers; it’s about driving movement. Mobilization is the process of getting your entire team to move in the same direction, working toward clear, shared goals. This ensures that everyone’s efforts are aligned with the company’s vision, mission and strategic plan. No more wasted energy on tasks that don’t contribute to the bigger picture.

The value your team delivers is what your customers truly care about, and it’s essential that every member of your team understands this value and knows how their work contributes to it. When the team is aligned around this value, they can work more effectively to meet the expectations of your customers, clients, or stakeholders. In the Mobilize phase, you’ll also set short-term and long-term goals that are specific, measurable, and achievable. These goals act as steppingstones toward your bigger vision and give your team the motivation they need to keep moving forward.

Mobilizing your team ensures that every effort is purposeful, every action deliberate. It takes the clarity established in the Organize phase and uses it to propel your team into action. This is where progress happens. Every team member knows what they’re working toward and why it matters, creating a focused and driven team that gets results.

Truby Management System Steps for Phase Three: Mobilize

• Value Delivered
• Goals

Phase Four: Optimize – Achieving Peak Performance

The final phase in the Truby Management System is Optimize, and it’s all about refining and improving your operations to achieve maximum productivity and profitability. By the time you reach this phase, your team is bonded, organized, and mobilized. Now, it’s time to take things to the next level by creating systems that streamline your workflow and make everything run smoothly. Doing this results in greater productivity and abundant profitability.

The Optimize phase focuses on two key areas: systems and continuous improvement. Well-designed efficiency systems are the secret to achieving consistent results with less effort. They ensure that tasks are completed in the most effective way possible, reducing wasted time, minimizing mistakes, and maximizing output. Whether it’s how your team handles communication, manages projects, or delivers customer service, efficiency systems help you get more done with fewer resources.

But optimization doesn’t stop with systems. The true mark of a high-performing team is their commitment to continuous improvement. Even the best systems can be refined, and even the most successful teams can improve. In the Optimize phase, you’ll create a culture of growth, where your team constantly looks for ways to get better. This could mean debriefing after projects to identify lessons learned, encouraging team members to share new ideas for improvement, or setting regular benchmarks to measure progress.

Optimization is what separates good teams from great ones. It’s what allows your business to scale and grow, without the growing pains that often accompany expansion. By focusing on optimization, you ensure that your team’s success is not just sustainable but scalable.

Truby Management System Steps for Phase Four: Optimize

• Systems
• Continuous Improvement

Wrapping It All Up: Your Path to Team Success

By following the Truby Management System, you’re not just addressing surface-level team issues—you’re creating a foundation for lasting success. Starting with Transform, you establish trust and bonding as the cornerstone. Moving to Organize, you bring clarity and accountability that eliminates confusion and empowers your team. Through Mobilize, you align your team around clear goals and the unique value your business delivers. Finally, in Optimize, you refine your systems and instill a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring peak performance.

This proven framework equips you to build a high-performing, resilient team capable of tackling challenges, seizing opportunities, and achieving extraordinary results. But if you want to dive deeper and access quick, actionable steps to implement this system effectively, we’ve got you covered.

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Want to learn more? Buy our popular book:

Curing Leadership Insomnia

How to use the Truby Management System to fix what keeps you up at night!

by Bill and Joann Truby

A complete guide to implementing quick and easy action steps that transform, organize, mobilize, and optimize YOUR team!

Purchase now for $14.99

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