I am sure we would all agree that working in a team that functions well is far more satisfying and of course more effective than working in a team where there is unhelpful behaviours and lack of collaboration. There is no doubt that managers and leaders spend a lot of time trying to ensure that the team is productive, engaged and motivated. All organisations have their own context within which they operate, and my first port of call would always be to understand what this is. Teams are complex and quite often the sometimes-small, unnoticed things can upset the dynamics of an effective team.
My approach On establishing what the challenges are and how they manifest in the team to inform how we might work together to address. This could take the form of individual and/or group work depending the most appropriate approach to addressing the challenges. I use a combination of facilitation and coaching and when required a little training or advice. I guarantee that I will create a confidential and open environment to explore the challenges being faced. Changes to how a team works together can only be sustained through the commitment and engagement of those involved and a plan with clear goals mapping future steps would be a key output. I will continue to work with the team until we agree that the changes required have been achieved.
To broaden self-awareness and understanding of individual drivers, I am likely to propose the use of a diagnostic or a psychometric tool such as Insights Discovery or MBTI. This helps individuals within the team gain a deeper understanding into how they approach tasks and challenges in the workplace alongside having a greater insight into the potential impact this might be having in the team. This quite often has a high impact on how they view each other, seeing that misunderstanding where their colleagues are “coming from” can lead to avoidable conflict and unnecessary negative behaviour. I understand that every team is different and would work closely to ensure that any tools proposed are appropriate for the individuals involved.