Your team is divided by personal agendas. How do you unite them towards collaboration?

When a team operates in silos rather than as a unified entity, several factors could be at play. These include the overarching organizational culture, specific team dynamics, a lack of a well-defined strategic plan, trust issues, and poor psychological safety. Assess and realign the organizational and team culture to foster collaboration and unity. Engage the team in creating a shared vision and goals that they are passionate about. Cultivate an atmosphere where trust can flourish. Encourage open communication and reliability among team members. Ensure team members feel safe to express themselves and bring their authentic selves to work without fear of judgment or repercussions.

I agree, AND when we look to the unique contributions of each member, sharing appreciation for those contributions of each contributor in a way they see and feel respected, that reinforces trust and cooperation.

Having a personal agenda can be beneficial for individual contributions. However, for team-based tasks, the key to success lies in collective teamwork and welcoming the ideas of all members. At first it is important to set a clear and common goal. As, it helps define what the team is trying to achieve and builds trust among members, aligning their efforts towards a shared objective. Encouraging open communication and idea-sharing, especially from younger team members, fosters an inclusive and collaborative environment. By valuing each member's input and maintaining effective communication, the team can work together harmoniously to achieve their goals.

By involving the team members in the goal setting process, we can ensure that they feel more motivated and show more ownership when it comes to working towards the goals. They will take more responsibility as the goals were set with their participation and inputs and not imposed on them.

I always run a pre-engagement kickoff with my team using the Team Canvas to address divergent personal agendas and align goals. I find it highly effective. This activity opens up conversations naturally that are not so easy to do without the activity. Here’s a structured approach to facilitate this process: Welcome and Objectives Icebreaker Personal Goals and Strengths Then ask about their Values Roles and responsibilities if not assigned yet Goals for the project and career goals, is there something they want to achieve for a promotion etc. Rules and Activities: Define how the team will work together, make decisions, and resolve difference of opinions and conflicts. The conversation is key here.

Aligning goals within a team is crucial to mitigate divergent personal agendas. As a facilitator, guiding the team to see the connection between individual success and collective achievement is essential. Organizing a workshop for collaborative goal-setting can foster a sense of ownership and commitment among team members. This process enhances the likelihood of individuals prioritizing team objectives over personal interests, leading to a more cohesive and productive team dynamic.

In my experience consulting for a multinational tech firm, we faced significant fragmentation due to diverse cultural backgrounds and remote work setups. Implementing regular virtual town halls and project-specific Slack channels facilitated open communication. This not only kept everyone aligned but also fostered a sense of inclusion and mutual respect. By actively listening to team members' input during these sessions, we were able to identify and address underlying issues, thereby transforming the team into a cohesive, high-performing unit.

In my experience as a management consultant, fostering inclusion is pivotal for team cohesion. For instance, in a project with a multinational client, we implemented regular 'perspective-sharing' sessions where team members from different cultural backgrounds shared their unique viewpoints on project challenges. This not only enriched the problem-solving process but also built a strong sense of belonging and mutual respect. When team members see their diverse contributions being valued, it significantly diminishes personal agendas and enhances collaborative efforts.

Addressing conflicts promptly and fairly is crucial for maintaining team cohesion. In my experience, a structured problem-solving session can be highly effective. For instance, in a project where team members had conflicting priorities, we implemented a mediation process that allowed each party to voice their concerns. This not only resolved the immediate conflict but also equipped the team with a framework for addressing future disagreements. Such proactive measures foster a culture of collaboration and mutual respect, essential for long-term success.

Leaders can help unite a team through demonstrating professionalism and commitment. If the leaders are empowered and motivated they can engage in team building and improve communication and trust within the team. Leaders should also demonstrate empathy so that team members feel that their personal challenges and concerns are acknowledged and understood by leaders and team mates.

Empoderar a los líderes es un elemento clave, tambien es importante establecer metas comunes y claras, fomentar la comunicación abierta, fomentar la colaboración activa, incertivar el reconocimiento y los logros, proporciona oportunidades de formación y desarrollo en habilidades de comunicación, trabajo en equipo, gestión de conflictos y liderazgo colaborativo. Es muy importante fomentar el trabajo en equipo y lograr las conexiones entre los diferentes miembros de la organización, sin afectar sus agendas y con objetivos claros en cada reunión grupal.