by Gayle Lantz
Are you managing a team or a sandbox? If you’re like some managers, you often feel like you’re dealing with kids. Sometimes juvenile behavior among team members persists for too long. Instead of a phase, it becomes the norm. Don’t settle for being the senior babysitter. Lead.
Here are some common childish negative team member types that managers encounter, and ways to deal with them.
- The Whiner. The squeaky wheel doesn’t always have to get the grease. If you have a whiner dominating your time, ask the person for specific solutions to the issues he’s whining about. If he’s complaining about long hours or too much work, acknowledge the concern and let the person know you want to work with him to identify ways to address the situation together. Don’t take the monkey.
- The Gossiper. Rumors, assumptions and speculation travel fast and can distract the team. The source needs to stop. Deal with the instigator as soon as that person can be identified. And prevent gossip by keeping open communication, sharing what you know. Stick to the facts.
- The Underminer. Sometimes no matter how much progress you make, there seems to be a person whose mission is to destroy what’s been built. Don’t tolerate this behavior. They spend too much time trying to bring people down instead of building the business. Set clear expectations and severe consequences for those who aren’t willing to be part of the team.
- The Hoarder. These types like power and control. Your team needs full access to important information, resources, etc. Help the hoarders see it’s not about them; it’s about results. Encourage them to share their toys.
If you’re not satisfied with a team member’s performance, now’s the time to do something about it. Your team’s overall performance depends on it.
On those days when you’ve had enough of people tugging on your sleeve, pointing fingers or saying, “It’s not fair!” resist the temptation to throw your own temper tantrum. Lead by helping your team understand the real game they’re expected to play.
Stop blowing your whistle. Blow away your competition instead!
PS – Team dynamics can be complicated. Assessments, when used correctly, can help your team function at its best. If you’d like to learn more about the easy assessment tools I use to help teams, please let me know.
On the Lighter Side
You can only be young once. But you can always be immature. ~ Dave Barry
Leadership Resource
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