This an old west African proverb that idealizes teamwork, emphasizing how people can accomplish greater things collectively rather than as individuals. In this proverb, the crocodile typifies any challenge or obstacle that people may face, and the river represents the pathway to overcoming those obstacles.
One of the greatest demonstrations of teamwork happens in the animal kingdom, somewhere in Serengeti in Tanzania at the annual wildebeest migration.
Every year over 1.5 million wildebeest, some 800,000 zebras, elands, and Thomson’s gazelles trek over 800 kilometers clockwise in a circle through from southern Serengeti to the Masai Mara in search of greener, mineral rich pastures and water. This search for greener pastures does not come without danger, as the herds enter the Masai Mara they are met by more than their fair share of lethal predators, the big cats and as they blindly jump from riverbank ledges and into the river waters, they are met with over 3000 crocodiles lurking in the murky waters of the Mara River. The spectacular river is filled with drama, death, and endeavor.
As the throngs of wildebeests gather on ledges above the river, they organize themselves, each animal vying for a position that gives the safest and surest path to the opposite river- bank, in an apparent display of teamwork. The few animals that rush toward the water are the herd leaders, with thousands following close behind. The crocodiles too start to move toward the slower and smaller wildebeests, surprisingly when the crocodiles interrupt the river crossing, the crossing herds are put in a disarray, the wildebeests scatter, in the commotion, the Mara River in its unrelenting ferocity, does so much in ending the lives of the younger calves that are simply too tired and inexperienced to survive the gantlet. In equal measure the hungry crocodiles at the smell of blood and meat, frantically start tearing at each other’s catch, in the chaos that ensues, the strongest and most determined herd reach the other side while some become history thanks to the crocodiles’ snapping jaws.
This is typical of a previously functional team becoming dysfunctional. Have you ever seen a team fall apart because of bickering, infighting, or a failure of accountability? Not only is it frustrating to watch, it's also incredibly disheartening. Many years ago, I was part of a church where everyone was baying for each other’s blood, the pastor was not in talking terms to the treasurer, the deacons would often gossip one against the other, the women leader wanted to control the church, striving and gossip were a common thing, the mess was evident, soon we discovered what David meant in Psalms 23: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters” that sheep cannot drink unless the waters are calm, the membership started dwindling, finances were going south, I presume even the church mouse at that time would not hang around the church premise anymore.
In his book, “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team”, Patrick Lencioni examines why effective teams are rare and provides specific recommendations for eliminating barriers that lead to dysfunctional teams. Lencioni's work outlines the causes of team dysfunctionality as an absence of trust, a fear of conflict, a lack of commitment, avoidance of accountability, and inattention to results.
Absence of trust where team members are unwilling to admit their mistakes, weaknesses, or need for help, fear of conflict such that the teams lacking trust are incapable of engaging about key issues thereby creating team conflicts, lack of commitment where it is difficult for team members to commit to decisions, fostering an environment where ambiguity prevails, avoidance of accountability arising from the need to avoid interpersonal discomfort and inattention to results where team members naturally tend to put their own needs (such as ego and recognition) ahead of the collective goals of the team.
As a leader what are you going to do about this conundrum?
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