Team Performance Diagnostic Checklist

Use This Diagnostic to Identify Where Your Team Needs Support

Team performance problems are rarely about one thing. They are usually a combination of unclear expectations, skill gaps, relational friction, and structural barriers. This diagnostic checklist helps you identify the root causes so you can address the right issues with the right interventions.

Section 1: Clarity and Alignment

Teams that are unclear about where they are going, why it matters, and what their role is will struggle to perform, no matter how talented the individuals are.

• Does every team member understand the team's primary purpose? Can they articulate it in their own words?
• Are goals and priorities clearly defined? Does everyone know what success looks like for the current period?
• Are roles and responsibilities explicit? Is there ambiguity about who owns what?
• Is there alignment between individual goals and team goals? Do people see how their work contributes to the bigger picture?
• Are decisions made consistently? Does the team have a clear decision-making framework, or does it feel ad hoc?

Scoring: If you answered no to more than two of these questions, clarity and alignment should be your first focus area.

Section 2: Communication and Collaboration

Communication breakdowns are the most common source of team dysfunction. They create confusion, resentment, and rework, all of which drain energy and performance.

• Do team members communicate openly and honestly? Is there psychological safety to raise concerns?
• Are meetings productive? Do they have clear agendas, outcomes, and follow-through?
• Is information shared proactively? Or do people operate in silos?
• Are disagreements addressed constructively? Or do they fester beneath the surface?
• Does the team have established communication norms? Response times, channel preferences, escalation paths.

Scoring: If you answered no to more than two of these questions, communication and collaboration need attention.

Section 3: Trust and Accountability

High-performing teams are built on trust. Trust means people believe their colleagues will do what they say, support each other, and have each other's backs. Without trust, accountability feels like policing, not partnership.

• Do team members rely on each other? Is there genuine interdependence?
• Are commitments honoured? When someone says they will do something, does it happen?
• Is feedback given and received openly? Or is it avoided or delivered poorly?
• Does the team celebrate successes together? Or is recognition individual and competitive?
• Are performance issues addressed promptly? Or do they persist because no one wants the uncomfortable conversation?

Scoring: If you answered no to more than two of these questions, trust and accountability are blocking performance.

Section 4: Skills and Capability

Sometimes performance issues are simply skill gaps. Identifying whether the problem is knowledge, skill, or application helps you choose the right intervention: training, coaching, or structural support.

• Does the team have the technical skills needed for their current responsibilities?
• Are there development plans in place for each team member?
• Does the team receive regular feedback on their performance?
• Are there opportunities for practice and application? Not just classroom learning.
• Does the team have access to the tools and resources they need?

Scoring: If you answered no to more than two of these questions, skills and capability development should be a priority.

What to Do With Your Results

This diagnostic is a starting point, not a verdict. Use it to identify your strongest and weakest areas, then prioritise accordingly. Most teams benefit from working on one area at a time rather than trying to fix everything at once.

Successories International uses a more comprehensive version of this diagnostic as the foundation of our team development programs. If you would like a facilitated assessment with actionable recommendations, we can design a program around your specific results.