An important task is assigned to “the team.”

Everyone hears it.

Everyone agrees it needs to happen.

And somehow, no one actually does it.

This is Diffusion of Responsibility:

When responsibility belongs to everyone, no one may feel personally responsible.

People assume someone else is handling it. They wait for another person to act first. Because ownership is shared broadly, accountability becomes difficult to locate.

Collaboration matters, but collaboration still needs names.

Who owns the task? Who makes the decision? Who follows up? Who knows when it is finished?

“Everybody” may sound inclusive.

It is also a surprisingly unreliable person to assign work to.