By Sandra Phillips

Speaker, author, CEO, SandraPhillipsPresents.com

Watch out! Warning! Warning!

You have recruited top talent for your team; you’ve empowered them to do their job and you let them go to work on their first project. Things are humming along when suddenly, you notice that the first project check-in date is missed and you begin to hear rumblings that the team is having trouble.

Now is the time to look for specific warning signs that you may have a dysfunctional team operating in your organization.

1. Team members are disengaged and show only minimal effort.

Team members are disconnected and there is no clear direction for the team.

Team members have feelings of isolation, relying on their individual capabilities.

2.  Team members have difficulty moving into new roles as part of a team.

Change is overwhelming to team members primarily because the members have a limited understanding of their new positions and or roles. Another challenge may be that team members have not bonded with each other.

3. Team projects have uninspired results.

It appears that team members may be experiencing "group think." Team members are wasting time, procrastinating and generally unexcited about being on the team. Again, team members have no clear direction.

4. Arguments, tension and resentment develop among team members.

Negative feelings and behaviors break out because there is a perception that not everyone is doing their share on the team. Consequently, there is personal distrust among members and any past misunderstandings linger and get blown out of proportion.

5. Team members need to be more responsive to customers.

Customer complaints are increasing because team members are insensitive to customer concerns, customers perceive a lack of “special treatment,” because team members are treating all customers the same.

6. Team leaders and members have trouble identifying and managing the team's needs.

There is mistrust on the team deriving from miscommunications among team members and a lack of accountability.

7. You, the leader, are at a loss for what to do.

Rather than throw your hands up in despair, try the following steps to get your team back on track.

1)      Talk with each team member to determine which of the seven signs above is plaguing your team.

2)      Facilitate a training session, using an outside facilitator, to address the specific issues that are bogging the team down.

3)      Use learning instruments as the core of your training session. The use of non-judgmental learning instruments increases team members’ ability to self-assess behavior in a non-threatening way.

4)      Agree on an action plan with your team members and implement it!

Just remember, teams are made up of individuals, people who are basically kids inside. Keep the work fun and you’ll have loyal team members for life.

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Sandra Phillips has helped hundreds of leaders in small and large companies inspire, energize and empower their teams using DiSC-based learning instruments for over 20 years. To get more FREE tips like these and a FREE 30-minute consultation, visit her at

http://leadershipskills-teambuilding-professionals.com

Sandra N. Phillips