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Many will remember the Schoolhouse Rock days and “Conjunction Junction”. With catchy lyrics and a train cartoon, the lesson remains unforgettable: conjunctions help you connect and communicate thoughts and ideas.

Now here’s the question for you as a leader:

Is your theme song “Conjunction Junction” or more like “Dysfunction Junction”?

What does Dysfunction Junction look like?

Dysfunction Junction looks like team members who are on different tracks or derailed altogether. It is a team that is disconnected and lacking communication, clarity, respect, efficiency, and order.

In other words, the train is going nowhere.

How can you get the train back on track?

Define the Roles

There is the conductor who oversees the operation, ensures safety, and keeps the train moving forward on schedule. The conductor is also the gatekeeper, determining who and what should be on the train.

And there is the engineer who drives the train. Their job is to ensure that the power of the engine is focused, controlled, and pulling in the right direction. Their attention to detail, quality, problem-solving, and good maintenance are key to the success of the mission.

There are other crew members with specific roles who, together, ensure the train travels safely to its intended destination.

And then there is the train itself, the sum of many parts. Each train car has a distinct design and purpose, for different functions. Some, like engines, are made to lead. They are equipped with the immense power needed to pull the load.

These are followed by specialty cars, like passenger cars, box cars, flatbeds, car haulers, refrigerated cars, grain cars, and tankers. These each serve a specific need.

Designate the Leads

As a leader, you are the conductor. Your job is to know the big picture and coordinate the parts, to ensure safety, and to keep things moving forward. If there are issues, you will coordinate with others to resolve them. You know the destination and how long it should take to get there, and the crew relies on you to carry the proverbial pocket watch.

It is also your job to be the gatekeeper, ensuring that the right people and tools are in the right place at the right time. Your team depends on you.

You must know the strengths of your team and the load each one is designed to carry. You would never load fuel into a box car or put a car hauler in front of the engine. This would create dysfunction. And, yet, leaders do this every day, where they have the right people but in the wrong roles. Know your team, and place them in the roles where they can serve best.

Drive the Process

A strong team on a mission, with shared values, will carry an unimaginable load. Instead of pulling in different directions, which leads nowhere, they are pulling together in the same direction, toward a common goal. And that creates a powerful force that drives to success.

Are your organizational train and crew pulling together like a good conjunction; or are they stalled out in Dysfunction Junction?

If your team is derailed and dysfunctional, reach out to the link below. We would love to help you get back on track and moving forward!

For valuable resources on Leadership Strengths and Tools, click here.

Deb Ingino is a highly sought-after executive coach, mentor, consultant, and speaker worldwide. Deb is well versed in business operations and in the importance of asking key questions most business leaders won’t ask themselves. She brings deep experience in leadership development, strategy, high performance team building and effective communication. She has a passion for leading people to discover and maximize their strengths as well as those of fellow team members, while offering advanced strategies to achieve high performance. Deb is the perfect fit if you’re ready to take your leadership and impact to the next level!