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While having things bubble and blow up in a science lab is usually a good sign of progress, in a business environment it could spell disaster. The ability to work well in a team is not just a wish list item HR staff are hoping for in candidates, but one that is necessary for both the team and the company as a whole. It plays an essential role in the success of any organization.

5 Signs Your Team May be Having Some Chemistry Issues

No clear leadership.
Every team has to have a set of rules and norms they follow to work together effectively. Each team also has to have a clear chain of command. If different group members are taking responsibility for leadership at different times, a power struggle forms that can pit team members against each other and reduce productivity for the company overall. When a power struggle forms, everyone on a team wants to take responsibility and give directions for things that are going well, but when the chips land on the wrong side of the table, the team starts pointing fingers at each other. This not only sends the wrong message to clients and other potential candidates, but delays production, reduces productivity, increases animosity and turnover. To combat this, there should be a clear line of leadership per team, where one overarching body takes overall responsibility for the effectiveness, setbacks and struggles of the team. One person can’t do it all though. So there should also be sub leaders, people tasked with certain responsibilities underneath the “head” leader. These individuals take on more responsibilities than others but still report to someone above them.

Lack of diversity.
Ever hear the saying “to much of a good thing…”? Well, having too many of the same personality type, characteristics, work ethic and skill level in the same team does not bode well for team diversity. In a team, there needs to be different points of view, different ways of problem solving and different skill levels. For example, let’s say you have to problem and need to solve a quick books issue. You’ve tried maneuvering different numbers, placed different boxes in new columns, even added equal signs. Nothing is working- until you have a colleague look at it. They help you solve the problem in a matter of minutes, and do so in a way you wouldn’t have even considered. Our brains are all unique, which means that each of us solves problems in different ways. There needs to be complexity and diversity on a team. It’s what makes a team rich, vibrant, highly productive, more successful in reaching team goals, and good for a company’s bottom line.

A destructive team member.
When teams are having chemistry issues, sometimes there is a catalyst for team breakdown. HR and management are responsible for helping a team work well together. That, however, cannot happen if one individual is disruptive to the whole team. Identify the toxicity early. The best way to determine if one individual is the catalyst for an entire team breakdown is to interview each team member separately, evaluate monthly goals, and stop into their office area unannounced from time to time. Identifying and removing the “bad seed” is the first step in helping improve team chemistry.

Lack of communication.
It all comes back to communicate. The world cannot function without it, and neither can a team. In order to work well together and establish respect among peers, there needs to be healthy dialogue among an entire team. If teams are bickering over who does what or is consistently going to management and airing grievances that their immediate boss is unaware of, then a foundation of mistrust is formed. Open door policies, positive criticism, regular staff meetings, explanations as to why a criticism was made, and regular reviews should all be part of your team’s communication plan.

The wrong fit.
When HR and management come together to establish who to hire for what team, there needs to be clear concise definitions of what management is looking for in a particular team. Each team is different; made up of different components and put together for different goals. When hiring takes place, this needs to be top of mind. It’s like fitting the right piece into a section of a puzzle. Other pieces sort of fit, sort of mesh with the overall picture, but don’t quite make it. It takes that perfect piece that just slides into place to bring the whole puzzle together. A team works very much the same way!

WorkSource understands the importance of a team functioning on all four cylinders. Finding the best fit for your team is time well spent. The right recruitment firm can help you find the perfect fit for your team!Contact our team at WorkSource today and learn how we can help you!

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