by Gayle Lantz
How is your team holding up under today's pressures? It's not unusual to find sensitivities running high and performance running low.
With fewer people and limited resources, people are stretched and stressed. Even in good times, teams experience internal tension or conflict.
You know your team is in trouble when team members…
- Talk more about each other than about how to accomplish the team goals
- Complain about problems more than they contribute solutions
- Compete with each other instead of collaborate
- Act like prima donnas instead of dedicated doers
- Feel like their work doesn't matter instead of working with purpose
Sudden changes, uncertainty and poor communication exacerbate team tension. You hope the dysfunction isn't apparent to clients or customers, but it is.
Last week, I tried to place an order at a local restaurant, but co-workers behind the counter were too busy bickering. The man who finally took my order did so while muttering about how much he hated his job. They weren't serving up team spirit.
With so many emotions flying in the workplace, you may take on the role of counselor or mediator. Or you may need one yourself. Use the opportunity to lead a little differently and lift morale when it's low.
A Few Tips
1. Test for understanding.
Priorities shift more quickly in times of change. Does every team member understand the top priorities and goals? Often leaders unknowingly make assumptions that everyone understands what needs to be accomplished. Take a moment to clarify who is accountable for what. Help your team stop the finger pointing at each other so they can point fingers to the common goal…and achieve it!
2. Lighten up.
Help your team stay motivated by keeping the mood light. Humor boosts morale. Share a funny story, a silly mistake…a photo, quote or cartoon that makes you laugh. If you're visibly tense yourself, become more approachable.
3. Shift the focus to "them."
When teams become too consumed by internal matters, they need help focusing externally. As an exercise, identify a small project the team can take on to help a client, customer, patient, stakeholder group, etc. Challenge members to make a tangible improvement in how the team is working together to serve that market…just ONE improvement that will make a difference. Reward the team for making the improvement.
4. Show appreciation.
While this should be a no-brainer, some leaders don't show enough appreciation…not intentionally, they're just "busy." Do something out of the norm to acknowledge the work of your team or an outstanding team member. You don't need to spend a lot of money. A personal note goes a long way. Brainstorm other ideas.
If trouble is brewing with your team, don't let things come to a boil. 
PS: In case you missed it, my special free special report is still available to you as a WorkMatters Tips subscriber. It's called Bull Bytes: 12 Bull-by-the-Horn Strategies to Boost Your Business.
You can download the report right now by using this link:
https://workmatters.com/bullbytes.pdf
On the Lighter Side
Gettin' good players is easy. Gettin' 'em to play together is the hard part.
— Casey Stengel
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