Nikki,
What do you do to change this person's behavior?
Ron Obstfeld
There always seems to be one person on the team that trys to take over the meeting. They are the type that interupts people while they are speaking, talks over people or always has a negative response to everything offered.
Sara,
Excellent options. Tanks so much for sharing.
Ron Obstfeld
Ron,
I have been in a situation where the group was so controlled that no one spoke out at all. If they did they were verbally beaten down in front of everyone. Basically the group was just a formality as the manager already had her agenda and was not going to let anything step in her way.
But how to rectify the situation? It is extremely difficult when the leader is the guilty party. One might approach the manager in private to discuss the issue. When approaching a stituation like this, I think it is best to bring it from your perspective. "I feel as if you did not like or approve of my idea. Can you provide me feedback on what was wrong with it so I can improve it?" This does not put them on the offensive.
Now if it the problem is not with leader of the group but a member there are a number of options. The leader can lay ground rules for how we respond to others, allow each member to speak uninterrupted, and provide positive feedback to encourage further feedback. It may be necessary to meet with the negative individual in private to voice your concerns as well.
These are just a few options.
Sara
albert,
What would you do in order to rectify this situation?
Ron Obstfeld
When a group cannot work together or the group is controlled and squeezed so tight no one will open up or make a comment or opinion.
Jennifer,
Good point. It is up to the group leader to keep on track.
Ron Obstfeld
Team progress is impeded when a group loses sight of it's overall goal or purpose. I have worked with groups in the past that got too caught up in their individual personal goals instead of focusing on the larger goals of the organization or it's constituents. Teams must be motivated to work for a collective versus personal good. Otherwise the group and the people it serves will suffer.
Harold,
Hopefully, coming late to a meeting is not a frequent occurrence. You might start meeting minute taking as a record and for people not present to keep informed. On an individual level, you can comment that the topic as already been discussed and the team member can catch up with you after the meeting.
Ron Obstfeld
The biggest challenge I have found with teambuilding is conducting a team meeting and not everyone there. When someone comes in late they tend to want to put their ideas on the table without realizing they have already been dicussed. It tends to slow everybody down. If we have began the process of planning I will not allow someone late into the meeting.
Jessica,
Depending on the circumstance, individual counseling and action may be required. Not everyone is comfortable in social settings especially if there is tension within the group.
Ron Obstfeld
Individual team members not getting along. I think an off-site team building or social gathering can really help staff members bond and connect better so that at work, even though they may disagree, they can relate to one another and put their disagreements aside for the sake of the team.
Toni,
You may want to consider pairing up people when forming a team.The pairs could work together thereby reducing the different paths. You might also touch base with team members on a regular basis to ensure they are proceeding along a path that will meet your goals.
Ron Obstfeld
One of the challenges we have is that we each spend so much time working independently that, even though we are working toward the same goal, we are taking vastly different paths to get there. While variety can be good, if it's too great it cam impede progress.
German,
Very true. Your colleagues probably do not see any advantage to participate...WIIFM (What In It For Me). Since they are so busy, they probably view this as EXTRA work they don't need or want. Perhaps there is a way to free up some of their time...or extra compensation(gift certificate, tickets, etc)....or special recognition. The trick is to find something that would motivate them to actively participate.You might also consider using parents. Especially in a small school, parents may want to be involved in special projects that will benefit the students.
Ron Obstfeld
I work for a really small school and sometimes employees are so busy on their day to day operation that they really dread being a part of a special task force. I feel like some employees that go by the law of the minimum effort are really hard to rally.
Michael,
I would also say that leadership is a key ingredient. The leader can identify different communication styles - share with the group and discuss what is the best communication strategy to ensure effective communication among the team members.
Ron Obstfeld
David,
What are the actions you take to overcome these challenges?
Ron Obstfeld
I would say the most common challenges that have impeded progress in my experience deal with communication styles. People communicate differently and a good team understands how to communicate with their team members. This involves learning more about the people on your team.
1. Internecine interactions among faculty
2. Individuals forming "cliques" within the team
3. Team members making decisions without discussing it with the entire team and/or leader
4. Team members going "over the head" of the leader when they are not satisfied with his/her performance
