Navigating the complexities of team dynamics is a critical aspect of leadership. Harvard Business Review reports that 75% of cross-functional teams are dysfunctional due to problematic behaviors.
Leaders must be equipped with effective strategies to manage and transform challenging team members. As an executive leadership coach, I’ve helped many leaders turn difficult situations into opportunities for growth and learning. Here’s a guide to tackling the issue of problematic team members with a proactive and thoughtful approach.
Establish Open and Honest Communication: Begin with dialogue. Address issues directly with the individual in a respectful manner. Honest communication can uncover underlying issues and lead to mutual understanding.
Reinforce Clear Expectations: Set the standard. Clearly articulate the expected behavior and performance standards. When expectations are transparent, there’s a benchmark for accountability.
Provide Constructive Feedback and Support: Offer guidance. Constructive feedback, paired with the necessary resources for improvement, can turn performance around.
Foster a Culture of Accountability: Hold team members accountable. Consistent accountability ensures that everyone understands the impact of their actions on the team’s success.
Lead by Example and Inspire Change: Be the change. Exhibit the behaviors you want to see in your team. Leading by example can inspire problematic team members to follow suit.
Handling problematic team members is challenging but essential for maintaining team harmony and productivity. By implementing these leadership solutions, you can turn these challenges into opportunities for team growth and development.
Lead From Within: Effective leadership is about transforming challenges into catalysts for growth, both for individuals and the team as a whole.
#1 N A T I O N A L B E S T S E L L E R
The Leadership Gap
What Gets Between You and Your Greatness
After decades of coaching powerful executives around the world, Lolly Daskal has observed that leaders rise to their positions relying on a specific set of values and traits. But in time, every executive reaches a point when their performance suffers and failure persists. Very few understand why or how to prevent it.
Additional Reading you might enjoy:
- 12 Successful Leadership Principles That Never Grow Old
- A Leadership Manifesto: A Guide To Greatness
- How to Succeed as A New Leader
- 12 of The Most Common Lies Leaders Tell Themselves
- 4 Proven Reasons Why Intuitive Leaders Make Great Leaders
- The One Quality Every Leader Needs To Succeed
- The Deception Trap of Leadership
Of Lolly’s many awards and accolades, Lolly was designated a Top-50 Leadership and Management Expert by Inc. magazine. Huffington Post honored Lolly with the title of The Most Inspiring Woman in the World. Her writing has appeared in HBR, Inc.com, Fast Company (Ask The Expert), Huffington Post, and Psychology Today, and others. Her newest book, The Leadership Gap: What Gets Between You and Your Greatness has become a national bestseller.