Your team member is undermining colleagues' efforts. How can you address this behavior effectively?

The first step in addressing undermining behavior is to carefully observe and identify specific patterns. Look for repeated actions or comments that undermine colleagues, such as negative remarks during meetings, claiming credit for others' work, or failing to follow through on tasks. Recognizing these patterns is crucial for understanding the full scope of the issue. This awareness sets the stage for a constructive conversation, where Motivational Interviewing techniques can be employed to address the behavior and foster a more collaborative and respectful work environment.

Once you've pinpointed the concerning behavior, start an open dialogue with the individual. Approach the conversation with empathy and a non-judgmental attitude to create a safe environment for honest communication. Employ open-ended questions, a core element of motivational interviewing, to delve into their perspective and encourage self-reflection. For instance, you might ask how they view team collaboration or if they're encountering any challenges affecting their behavior. This approach helps uncover underlying issues and fosters a collaborative effort towards constructive change.

Empathy is a crucial element in motivational interviewing, especially when addressing negative behavior. It involves understanding and respecting the team member’s feelings and perspectives, even if you don’t agree with their actions. By showing empathy, you acknowledge their viewpoint, which can reduce defensiveness and foster a more open, constructive dialogue. This approach helps in discussing their behavior and its impact more effectively, creating a foundation for positive change and mutual understanding. Empathy transforms challenging conversations into opportunities for growth and collaboration.

Motivational interviewing leverages the concept of discrepancy to help individuals see the gap between their current behavior and their broader goals or values. Engage in a conversation with the team member about how their actions might clash with their personal objectives or the team's success. Highlight that undermining colleagues not only impedes team progress but also stymies their own professional development. By illustrating this conflict, you help them recognize that aligning their behavior with their goals can enhance both personal growth and collective achievement, fostering a more cohesive and productive work environment.

The final step in applying motivational interviewing techniques is to elicit 'change talk.' This involves steering the conversation to encourage the individual to vocalize their desire, ability, and reasons for change. Ask questions that prompt them to reflect on the benefits of modifying their behavior and the advantages of a more collaborative approach. The goal is to help them express their own motivations for change, which can significantly boost their commitment to taking positive actions. By articulating their reasons for change, they are more likely to embrace and sustain new, constructive behaviors.