Even though the term “avoidance behavior” is not often mentioned in the Right-Minded Teamwork model or books, avoidance behavior is easy to detect in teammates and RMT processes. If you notice it occurring, from an RMT perspective, you can consider it wrong-minded, adversarial behavior.
Identifying avoidance behaviors and attitudes and understanding the harm they cause is the first step in moving from a wrong-minded place into Right-Mindedness. The 7 Mindfulness Training LessonsAchieving Right-Minded Teamwork involves adopting an attitude of mindfulness. 7 Mindfulness Training Lessons teaches you to do no harm as you work as one with your teammates. and the Right Choice ModelThe model is a teaching aid that helps your team choose a set of unique, “right” teamwork attitudes and behaviors. are excellent tools for teaching yourself and your team how to act and behave in a Right-Minded, accountable way.
For example, if you look carefully at the Right Choice Model’s lower loop, you will notice that the victim or victimizer first avoids the situation when a difficult situation occurs.
When Right-Minded Teammates ask themselves the Right Choice Model question, How did I create, promote, or allow this difficult situation to happen? they often realize they have unconsciously demonstrated avoidance behavior. Then, noticing their mistake, they simply choose to accept, forgive, and adjust their approach and return to living in accordance with their team Work AgreementsA Work Agreement is a collective promise made by teammates to transform non-productive behavior into collaborative teamwork behavior..
How to Facilitate Team Work Agreements: A Practical, 10-Step Process for Building a Right-Minded Team That Works as One