Teams often fall short of their potential, struggling with productivity and accountability. Over the past decade, in leadership and team-building programs worldwide, I’ve consistently heard the same core reasons for these failures. Team leaders frequently lament the lack of accountability or friction stemming from differing communication and conflict resolution styles. Effective communication and strong interpersonal skills are crucial for any team’s success. Sometimes, all a team needs is a structured forum, like team-building meetings, to openly address these issues.
Here are 10 common obstacles that prevent teams from reaching peak performance:
1. Backstabbing: Address this head-on. The team should collaboratively create a rule, such as unresolved backstabbing incidents escalating to the team leader.
2. Interrupting: A pervasive meeting disruptor. Establish a rule where members must wait for the current speaker to finish and raise their hand before speaking. The team leader must model this behavior.
3. Tangents: When discussions veer off-topic, the team leader should tactfully gauge the group’s interest in continuing the tangent. If not, offer the speaker a private conversation after the meeting.
4. Whining: Implement a rule where complaints must be accompanied by proposed solutions. One team humorously used sad-face cue cards to discourage excessive complaining.
5. Lack of Knowledge Sharing: Make knowledge sharing a core job responsibility. No amount of team-building can compensate for a lack of willingness to share knowledge, skills, and ideas.
6. Tardiness: Consistent lateness undermines team morale. Establish a clear, written standard for punctuality to promote accountability.
7. Excessive Breaks: Define the number and duration of breaks in job descriptions. Alternatively, let the team collectively decide on reasonable break policies.
8. Disorganized Shared Workspace: Address productivity issues stemming from cramped or messy workspaces. If you have a messy and clean person sharing a space, have them define and document expectations. If the break room is a mess, putting up a sign that gently reminds people to clean up can help.
9. Excessive Personal Use of Internet/Telephone: Teams should define acceptable boundaries for personal internet and phone use. Socializing is fine, but it shouldn’t detract from team performance.
10. Leaking Confidential Information: Clearly define what constitutes confidential information, put it in writing, and hold everyone accountable.
To improve team dynamics, gather your team to identify and discuss unacceptable behaviors or activities that negatively impact performance or could do so in the future. Document these points, distribute them to everyone, and hold everyone accountable. Without accountability, there’s no motivation for change. Effective team leaders are proactive and decisive.
Finally, lead by example. Your team will observe your actions more closely than your words. Remember, ‘What we prepare for is what we shall get.’