Getting the Most from Your Team

     As a leader, one of your challenges is to support your team members to be their bestall the time! Sometimes team members fall into negative thinking or behaviors that impair their ability to stay motivated, excited, sharp, and on track.

     Here are some team pitfalls to watch out for and some tips on how to move the team members past them:

     The good enough syndrome: The good enough syndrome is when your team has experienced some successa few winsand they begin to think the job is done, and its time to sit back and coast.

     Whats important, first, is to thoroughly acknowledge your team for its accomplishments. Make sure they really get your communication about the fantastic job they have done so far. Next, communicate with your team and help them refocus on your companys business plan and purpose or mission statement. Ask team members to state what it means to them to fulfill the business plan and to further the companys reason for being. Then ask them to recommit!

     The blame game: When your team has been missing its goals, sometimes it slows down its production or the quality of its work even more because it is busy blaming someone outside the company or circumstances for how the company is doing.

     The antidote for this team behavior is a review of what it means to be accountable. At some moment in the past, team members agreed to allow you to hold them accountable. Now is the time to do that. Make sure they understand the impact on the company when the team ignores its accountability. Ask them to recommit to be accountable in the future. Say something that completes the issue and reestablishes the relationship with each member.

     When one member is in breakdown, the whole team follows: When one team member is experiencing personal or other problems, sometimes that members performance breaks down. Often, the remaining team members use that circumstance as an excuse for them to stop functioning, too.

     Team members need to be reminded about their powertheir power to produce results, even if one of their members is not contributing. And, they should be reminded about their power of choicethat they can choose to give as much effort as they decide to give.

     Bottom Line: Spend some time thinking about your team and how it functions. It isnt wise to assume that your team will function at its best all the time, as if it is on automatic pilot. Be proactive and sensitive to whats happening with your team. Part of being a leader is being a good coach or mentor for your own team. Why not check in with your team today?

Clay S. Nelson, the founder of Consulting Services Network LLC, and his team are committed to putting fun, family and financial freedom into everyones business and personal lives.  With over two decades of experience coaching business leaders in creating life balance, building teams, and writing plans, their programs are designed to alter the cultures of companies and families.  They make a powerful and lasting difference with each person they meet, every group they speak with, and with every client they serve.