5 Common Team Performance Issues And How To Defeat Them Easily

5 Common Team Performance Issues And How To Defeat Them Easily

Employee performance is one of the most important factors in any business, and team management is no exception. With so many things at stake, it’s crucial that managers can identify and address team performance issues as quickly as possible. In this blog post, we’ll list some of the most common employee performance issues managers face. From unsatisfactory work output to clashes among team members, read on to find out how to deal with them.

Common team performance issues

Team performance issues can be a major headache for any leader. They can affect any team, but they’re most common in organizations with a high number of change and transition employees. Some new issues can arise, particularly in remote and hybrid teams, owing to their nature of networking. Poor communication is one of the leading causes of these issues, and leaders need to manage their emotions to keep their teams functioning smoothly. This often leads to fiscal conservatism, which often leads to micromanagement practices that can negatively impact employee performance. Leaders must be able to identify the root of the issue and take the necessary steps to correct it. To do so, we will begin by understanding managers’ most common team performance issues.

Ineffective communication across team members

The absence of proper communication mechanisms is a common issue in many teams. Although communication seems easy enough, it generally is not. When discussing communication, we must ensure robust communication between the teams, their managers, and the teams themselves. Therefore, managers need to focus on building relationships within their teams. They can look at practical team-building activities to get their teams to work together. A lack of effective communication is one of the main causes of team performance issues. Poor communication can lead to misunderstandings, which in turn can cause team clashes and frustration. Effective communication requires a levelheaded approach that balances the need for information dissemination with the importance of maintaining employee morale. Leaders must understand their employees’ needs and put themselves in their shoes to communicate with them effectively.

Lack of trust and cohesion among members

Another familiar team performance issue is a lack of trust and cohesion. It happens when team members don’t feel like they can rely on one another. Trust is important because it allows team members to share information without fearing retaliation or retribution. Building trust within teams is a significant challenge that many managers face because they are unsure of the way to do it. Hence, they end up with teams unable to collaborate effectively and function autonomously. Cohesion, on the other hand, refers to the level of connectedness within the team and its ability to work together harmoniously towards a common goal. When cohesion is low, it can lead to reduced Trust among team members and ultimately disrupt teamwork efforts altogether. Leaders must ensure that their teams have a good sense of Trust and fraternity to function optimally towards shared goals.

Absence or abundance of freedom

Many employees feel a lack of freedom and direction at work, often leading to low morale and poor performance. It can be primarily due to a hierarchical management style where decision-making is centralized. This type of management leaves employees feeling boxed in and unable to take advantage of their full potential. Resultantly, employees lack the habit of taking ownership of their work. As internal accountability is typically low, the team members cannot work as independent units who take responsibility for their work. Instead, they remain dependent on the manager to direct affairs. To combat this problem, encourage employees to take ownership of their work instead of just following orders blindly. Doing so will help them develop a sense of pride and self-confidence in what they do. In addition, team-building exercises can help foster camaraderie within the workforce – essential for positive employee engagement! On the other hand, the opposite problem can exist too. Instead of micromanaging, some managers may not provide any directions at all. Your team performance issues could be due to a lack of proper planning and organizing. Hence, setting smart goals for yourself and your team is important.

Lack of training required to achieve goals

Many employees lack the skills and training required to achieve their goals. It leads to a lack of motivation, as they do not see the purpose in what they are doing. Often, this problem can be traced back to poor employee management practices where team members are given unclear or incomplete instructions. Instead of developing individual skills and abilities, team members tend to work on tasks that have already been outlined. As a result, teamwork is hindered because no one dares try anything new for fear of failure at work. Managers must encourage team members to look for innovative ideas to solve problems. Moreover, they should also provide ample resources for employee development. While the employees may have encouragement, they may need more skills to achieve a particular task. In such situations, the managers can help by turning into coaches or providing them otherwise. Investment in their growth will help the employees see that their team values their efforts and cares for them, motivating them to perform better.

Falling morale and ineffective motivation

A lack of motivation can be traced back to poor team management practices. Team members are often expected to work enthusiastically day after day. Although great, it is an unrealistic proposition. Multiple reasons – ranging from toxic culture invested in petty office politics to isolation – can force the motivation of an employee to drop. As a result, employee performance issues will arise as they no longer perform their job enthusiastically but do the bare minimum to keep up appearances. In such situations, managers need to look for effective employee motivation techniques. They can also try methods to enhance employee engagement, such as regular one-on-one meetings to understand their perspectives and concerns. You have to work with the employee to resolve the performance issues effectively. Meanwhile, more than a one size fits all motivational technique may be needed. You will need to look for different ways to motivate employees.

How to overcome common team performance issues?

A team of good performers will work together seamlessly to complete the tasks assigned to them. However, if there are any issues with teamwork – such as a lack of communication or a lack of Trust – these problems can become more pronounced and difficult to fix. Here are four steps that you can take to overcome team performance issues:

1) Establish clear leadership and task roles

It’s essential that everyone on the team knows their role and what is expected from them. It ensures that all tasks get completed efficiently, without any overlap or confusion. Additionally, make sure all team members understand the business goals and objectives. It will help them to understand the reason behind any changes or updates that are made.

2) Establish clear communication channels

The key to a successful team is good communication. Everyone on the team should be aware of what’s happening, and they can communicate effectively with one another. Ensure all team members have access to the right communications tools to share all information quickly and efficiently.

3) Implement regular performance reviews

Regular performance reviews not only provide feedback about individual work performances, but they also help to identify team issues and problems. This way, everyone on the team knows where they need to improve to achieve success. Criticism without proper context can deteriorate the Trust between team members – which could lead to a total breakdown of teamwork. Instead, be careful about what you say – and make sure that your comments are aimed at helping the individual performer rather than critiquing their work altogether.

4) Conduct one-on-one meetings

Performance issues are reflected in the team’s performance but directly affect the employees. YourYour team members will be able to help you identify the reasons and possible solutions to team performance issues when they have a safe space to express themselves. Moreover, they can also highlight any needs or problems arising from the management’s side. Conduct one-on-one sessions regularly with an open mind to grow with your team.

Conclusion

Team performance issues are headaches for managers and leaders. While the problem may appear unbreakable initially, there are ways to get through it. In this blog, we have listed the most common team performance issues that managers deal with. We have also listed a few remedies to help teams overcome these employee performance challenges. There are several things that team leaders can do to help their team succeed. By implementing good communication practices, regularly conducting performance reviews, and offering one-on-one meetings, the leader can help ensure that the team successfully achieves its goals.

Do you have strong communication skills needed to overcome team challenges?
Find out now.

Risely’s free communication skills self-assessment for managers provides you the insights needed to build a fail-proof communication strategy.


FAQs

How do you resolve team performance issues?

A manager can effectively resolve team performance issues before they occur is creating robust communication and healthy relationships in teams. Moreover, take steps to curb distractions and stress in the workplace.

What are the common performance problems encountered by managers?

The most common team performance issues are underproductivity, lack of trust and cohesion among teams, and frequent conflicts.

How do managers overcome challenges?

Managers can overcome team challenges by creating cohesive strategies that bring everyone together. It requires the use of interpersonal skills, time management, and solid goal-setting.

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Guide To Nonverbal Communication For Managers: Types & How To Improve

Guide To Nonverbal Communication For Managers: Types & How To Improve

Nonverbal communication is one of the most critical aspects of managing people. This communication occurs outside of verbal communication – things like body language, facial expression, posture, and sound are important elements here. And as a manager, you must understand and use nonverbal communication effectively to build trust and communication with your team. This blog will explore all aspects of nonverbal communication, from its importance to different types of nonverbal communication, and how you can improve your skills in using nonverbal communication in the workplace. So whether you’re a new manager or an experienced one, make sure to pay attention to nonverbal communication at work!

What is nonverbal communication?

When we talk of communication, we typically think of verbal communication, which is done through the spoken word. However, most of our communication is nonverbal, even in our day-to-day life. Unconsciously, we end up communicating a lot through nonverbal communication. Nonverbal communication refers to communication carried out in mediums other than verbal. It includes actions, body language, and gestures to convey various emotions. It also has one’s appearance, posture, and tone of your voice. At work, managers and leaders communicate a lot in meetings and even otherwise. Their eyes, tone, and body movements may be sharing a lot which will help strengthen the message of their verbal communication. Therefore, managers and leaders need to focus on utilizing their nonverbal communication skills in the most effective manner possible. To do so, let us begin by understanding the types of nonverbal communication.

Different types of nonverbal communication

There are seven different types of nonverbal communication which include the following –

Facial expression

Facial expression is probably the most important nonverbal communication type as it conveys a lot of our emotions and feelings to others, for instance- When someone is mad, their facial expression may show anger, frustration or even sadness which will easily be picked up by others people around them (depending on the context). Depending on what facial expression you are displaying can either help or hinder your message in a meeting or conversation; for instance, if you are angry, your facial expression may tend to overshadow your verbal message.

Eye contact

Eye contact is another necessary nonverbal communication type, as it conveys comfort and trustworthiness. When we make eye contact with someone, they know that we are listening to them and are interested in what they have to say. In a meeting, if one or more participants fail to make eye contact throughout the conversation, other attendees can quickly notice this. On the other hand, a participant who constantly avoids eye contact can be seen as reluctant by others, who might find it hard to trust them.

Gestures

Gestures are body movements that communicate our emotions and feelings to others. You can use them in many different ways. For example, when we are trying to show anger or frustration, we might clench our fists or raise our voice; or, if we want to convey a message of peace or cooperation, we might make nonverbal signals such as nodding along with the speaker, crossing our arms etc. Gestures are also used for communication within groups. For instance, if one person wants everyone else to stop talking so they can give their speech uninterrupted (using gestures), then they will typically make eye contact with each person throughout the silence and gesture for them to stop talking. They are also good to use when verbal communication might turn ineffective.

Touch

Touch is a significant nonverbal communication type as it allows us to express affection, comfort and trust. We often touch others to show love or appreciation. For instance, we shake hands with a lot of people. Those with a firm handshake appear confident and strong. Conversely, people with weak handshakes might perceive that they are softer and less likely to achieve their goals. Touch is also used to convey other emotions; someone might use an unwelcome touch to show superiority and impose authority. Or people can use touch to offer support and connection.

Space

The way in which we space ourselves away from others can communicate different things. For instance, if someone feels uncomfortable, they might move closer to the person accompanying them to distance themselves. The amount of space an individual occupies also has implications- for example, people tend to invade personal space more when angry or nervous, meaning there is less room for other people around them. The distance between two people typically indicates the closeness of their relationship.

Body movements and posture

The way in which we stand, the way that our whole body is positioned, and the facial expressions that we make all have an effect on how others perceive us. For instance, if someone feels shy or insecure, they might adopt a defensive posture- arms crossed over their chest, head lowered etc.- to protect themselves from verbal or physical contact. Conversely, confident and self-assured people tend to stand with their heads up, signalling dominance over others. Movements that appear confident and sure help you stand out and strengthen your case in a crowd.

Voice

You can use our voice’s tone to convey several different messages. For example, if we are angry, our voice might become louder and more intense, while if we are sad or anxious, our voice might sound lower and less confident. How we speak also has implications- for example, people who talk in a loud and assertive manner tend to be perceived as more competent than others, which is why assertive communication is considered essential for managers. Similarly, speaking speed, intonation, and inflections are crucial elements of nonverbal communication.

The importance of nonverbal communication in the workplace

In today’s world, nonverbal communication is more critical than ever. It can help to build trust and credibility, as well as maintain relationships. If you’re unaware of the importance of nonverbal communication in the workplace, it’s time to start paying attention. Here are five reasons why you need to focus on it:
  • It strengthens and delivers your message with clarity.
  • Nonverbal communication helps others identify your message’s important parts and key areas.
  • Managers can use nonverbal communication to show interest, boosting motivation and engagement.
  • It helps build your perception and image.
  • Mastering nonverbal communication helps you become an effective communicator at work and enables you to do your job effectively.

How to improve your nonverbal communication skills at work?

Nonverbal communication is one of the most critical aspects of communication. It can help you get along better with co-workers, understand their feelings and needs, and reduce misunderstandings and drama. Here is how you can start working on your nonverbal communication skills at work today –

Maintain eye contact

The first step to effectively using nonverbal communication is practising eye contact. Maintaining eye contact helps the other person note that you are engaged and actively interested in what they are saying instead of merely listening passively. It builds a lot in building rapport and enhancing engagement with others, including team members. Smile

Focus on appearances

Your posture, body language, and voice are just as important as your eye contact and facial expression. Make sure you focus on appearing confident and at ease. Try to avoid fidgeting or constantly adjusting something on your body – this gives the impression that you are uncomfortable. Moreover, take care of your appearance. It includes dressing smartly and preparing yourself properly before leaving for work. Your attention to personal care and details can help others increase their faith in your ability and desire to maintain a similar level of care towards your work. It boosts their confidence in your work ethic.

Use powerful gestures while you speak

When you are speaking, make use of powerful gestures. You can use your hands to demonstrate your points when explaining something. It helps illustrate what you’re saying and will add impact to your voice. Try to occupy space and remain confident with an excellent posture to maintain a confident appearance. Also, try not to rely too much on body language while communicating – a lot of movements can make you look tacky and become counterproductive.

Maintain facial expressions

Maintaining the correct facial expressions to convey your emotions regarding a situation or message is important. A smile makes you look friendlier and conveys trust and confidence. When others see that you are happy with what they are saying or doing, it can also boost their faith. In addition, a genuine smile shows that you’re listening and interested in the person talking to you. This is especially important with superiors or people who have authority over us.

Use your voice to do the job!

Your voice is one of the most powerful tools you have as a nonverbal communicator. When you speak, use clear and concise language to communicate your message. Avoid using slang or colloquial expressions; they can be difficult for others to understand and damage your credibility. Speak at a consistent volume so that everyone in the vicinity knows precisely what you are saying. Inject enthusiasm into your voice when discussing something that makes you happy – this will come across as positive and attractive to others. Additionally, minimize the use of inflexion so that you appear sure of your ideas. It helps others put their faith in you too. Also check out the body language mistakes that every manager should avoid.

Conclusion

Nonverbal communication is one of the essential skills you can develop to improve your career. Understanding different types of nonverbal communication and how to use them effectively can build trust and rapport with your co-workers. In addition, improving your nonverbal communication skills can help you handle difficult situations calmly and assertively. So what are you waiting for? Start learning about nonverbal communication today and see its positive impact on your career!

Are your communication skills up to the mark? Check now!

Risely’s free communication skills self-assessment for managers helps you understand the necessary elements to make your communication strategy fail-proof.


FAQs

How much communication is nonverbal at work?

While it may come as a surprise, various studies show that most workplace communication is nonverbal, with some citing numbers as high as 93%, leaving only 7% of the job to be done by words. Nonverbal communication constantly happens in tandem with verbal.

What is nonverbal communication kinesics?

Kinesics refers to the interpretation of body language and gestures. Your eye and hand movements, posture, facial expressions and gestures come under kinesics.

How can nonverbal communication affect your work environment?

Nonverbal communication goes on constantly at work and thus creates many subtle impacts. Teams showing healthy signs through nonverbal communication, such as trust and openness, can cultivate a good environment. On the other hand, nonverbal cues can often reveal hidden tensions and conflicts in the team.

How effective is nonverbal communication?

According to various research, nonverbal communication carries more impact than verbal communication as it is generally more intuitive and automatic. Some studies show a higher efficiency of 65-90%.

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