What To Do When You Encounter Resistance From Team Members
Sometimes having difficult people on your team can be a very difficult thing itself.
These set of people can frustrate your efforts and make you want to give up.
I have found out that most times, they want to see you prove yourself as a leader before they can submit to you.
The truth is that having difficult people on your team as a leader, is a blessing in disguise, because it helps you properly hone your people management skills.
It is also a good way to assess yourself and your impact on the team.
Here are steps you can take to handle resistance
- Check your approach: This is the point where you have to objectively analyse your leadership strategy and people skills.
Are you a leader who cares about your people or are they tools to achieve targets? How do you communicate with them?
2. Watch your attitude: Don’t take it personal. Let all your decisions be based on the overall good and success of the the team and not your ego.
If you don’t manage your personal feelings, it will get in the way and might lead to a breakdown in communication.
Not everybody will like your leadership style, but there is always a way to get all talents on board amicably.
3. Study: Try to understand the root cause of the resistance. Most times, there might be a ringleader.
Invest time in genuinely getting to know and understand them and how they think.
If you do, you might discover that they are not bad people after-all. Show love and care.
4. Dialogue: Most times, you will need to talk to the ringleader or the group about their actions and how it is affecting the team.
Be careful with your use of words and mannerisms.
Also, watch out for non-verbal signals that might help you detect or solve the problem.
You have to do more of listening than talking.
Ask questions to understand the issues further. This can also serve as an opportunity to recommend professional counseling sessions too.
5. Make changes: Be willing to make changes if need be, for the success of the team. Don’t be rigid.
6. Flushing: It can get to a point where you have to flush out bad eggs from the system, so they do not corrupt other team members.
The fact is that some people have bad attitudes and they display it everywhere they go.
If laying them off is the best thing to do, don’t be afraid to take the bold decision for the good of the team.
Thank you for finding time to read.
