The Hidden Cost of Skipping Team Development

Imagine you’re boarding a flight. Everything looks routine until a disagreement between two crew members forces a four-hour delay. That’s exactly what happened with United Airlines Flight 2138, where internal logs cited “disagreement on 2 of the flight attendants; crew will need to re-crew flight.” I read about this in People magazine last week, so I imagine United is dealing with angry passengers and a PR nightmare right now.

This incident isn't restricted to flight crews—it’s an example of what happens in any organization when it neglects team culture, communication, and trust. Missed development, unspoken tensions, and unclear roles add up to problems down the line. And the cost is very real: delayed projects, damaged reputation, lost productivity.

Trust, Alignment & Conflict — Why They Matter

At its core, high-performing teams rely on trust: the confidence that each member will show up, behave aligned with the team’s values, and resolve conflicts constructively. High-trust companies report 50% higher productivity than low-trust companies, along with less stress, more energy, fewer sick days, and lower burnout (Harvard Business Review). 

Alignment means clarity: purpose, roles, communication norms, how decisions are made. Without it, friction emerges. Unresolved conflict isn’t just toxic; it’s costly. The airline example shows how two people not aligned can derail an entire operation.

The Business Impact of Skipping Team Investment

A recent study by CPP Inc (publishers of the Myers-Briggs Assessment) showed that U.S. employees spend on average 2.8 hours per week dealing with conflict, equivalent to ~$359 billion annually in lost productivity!When organizations treat team development, alignment, or conflict resolution as optional, they leave vulnerabilities that can cause internal dysfunction. That dysfunction can result in disrupted service, delays, customer fallout, and talent loss. In the airline case, a disagreement forced a full crew change and huge operational cost.

A Framework to Prevent the “Flight Delay” Scenario

1. Create Safe Channels for Conflict – Build a regular forum where team members can bring up issues before they become crises.

2. Invest in Alignment Early & Often – Use retreats or alignment sessions to clarify how your team works together, roles, decision-rights, communication norms.

3. Treat Team Health as Strategic – Team dynamics require preventative care—not only reaction. Don’t wait until there is a problem to begin focusing on team development.

4. Measure the “Soft” Metrics – Trust, psychological safety, clarity on roles—they may seem intangible, but they drive measurable business outcomes.

When organizations skip investing in how teams work together—how they communicate, build trust, and gain alignment, it can be costly. At Simetras, we help organizations build those relational foundations so disruptions like this become far less likely, resulting in greater productivity and business performance. Want to explore how to strengthen your team before the next disruption? Contact us to discuss how a customized offsite or leadership coaching initiative can give your team the runway they deserve.