Maybe it’s a stretch assignment. Or a lack of communication. Maybe a project has been misassigned … but whatever the problem is, if your team is struggling, it’s up to you to help its members overcome their issues. By being patient and understanding, and taking a few thoughtful steps, you can help that team return to productivity – not to mention being happier and more engaged.
Listen.
Instead of assuming you know why a team is struggling, sit down and listen to their input. Determine exactly where the problem lies. Only then can you effectively help. Once you understand their point of view, assure team members that you’ll support them as they work their way through their assignment.
Make your expectations clear.
Make sure everyone fully understands what results are expected of them and by when. In addition to an initial meeting, you may want to schedule times for team progress updates, especially at first. These will be additional opportunities to ask and answer questions and keep things on track.
Give team members extra face time.
Often, struggling employees will “hide” from their managers so as not to expose their weaknesses. So, reach out to them one-on-one and instigate a conversation on their progress. Then, you can guide them individually as well as in a group setting. This may entail helping them break larger assignments down into smaller, more manageable pieces.
Provide training where it’s needed.
Now that you understand the issue at hand, identify areas where employees may need extra training or remediation. It may be in hard job skills or equally important soft skills like communications, negotiation, or conflict resolution. Then, make that training happen. It will be worth the investment as you start to see desired business results.
Praise efforts in the right direction.
In short, what you reward, increases. Celebrate individual and team victories, both small ones along the way, and the full completion of a project. It can be as simple as a pizza party or a heartfelt email acknowledging someone for achieving a desired outcome. Appropriate recognition and reward go a long way.
As a last resort, reevaluate the makeup of your team.
Suppose, despite all your best efforts, a team continues to experience failure. In that case, it may have to be realigned by removing or replacing one or more members – because when an employee is not performing well, they will be unhappy. It may be painful at first, but it will be best for everyone in the long run.
Are you seeking higher productivity through teamwork and other best talent management practices? Would you also like better access to hard-to-find candidates, especially in today’s highly competitive marketplace? If so, contact PrideStaff Modesto today. We’ll design a strategy that works for you and your unique business needs.
