?? 10 WAYS YOUR ONSITE TEAM IS A HOT MESS (AND HOW TO FIX IT) ??
Alison Gordon
TRANSFORMATION COACH, NLP Practitioner, Certified FIREWALK INSTRUCTOR, Author, Speaker, Facilitator and Professional Ripple-Maker! COME WITH ME TO AN EXCITING LIFE OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE!
Let’s face it – working in an office should be easier than remote work, right??
Except... often it’s not! When your on-site team is more dysfunctional than a Wi-Fi connection in a basement, it’s time for a soft skills intervention!?
Here’s why your team might be struggling (and how to fix it!).?
1 ?Meetings That Could’ve Been a Memo?
?? Leader Fix: Set an agenda and use a “This meeting will self-destruct in 30 minutes” policy.?
?? Team Fix: If it’s a status update, send an email. No more hostage situations on Zoom.?
2? The Passive-Aggressive Printer Wars?
?? Leader Fix: Model direct, respectful communication so people say what they need instead of leaving cryptic post-it notes.?
?? Team Fix: If someone prints 100 pages of nonsense, talk to them. Don’t start a cold war over toner.
3? The “Nobody Owns This” Syndrome?
?? Leader Fix: Define clear roles. If it’s everyone’s responsibility, it’s no one’s responsibility.?
?? Team Fix: Speak up! Ask for ownership before things hit the fan.?
4? Collaboration That’s Really Just Delegated Misery?
?? Leader Fix: If “teamwork” just means dumping tasks on the most competent person, fix that.?
?? Team Fix: Set boundaries. “I’d love to help, but Bob’s idea is Bob’s baby.”?
5? The Open-Plan Office Circus?
?? Leader Fix: If people are wearing noise-cancelling headphones to survive, rethink the layout.?
?? Team Fix: Be the colleague you want to work with. No loud calls, no microwaving fish!?
6? The “Culture” Nobody Can Define?
?? Leader Fix: If your culture is just a list on the wall, no one believes in it. Live it!?
?? Team Fix: Ask, “What does that actually mean for how we work?” and hold leadership accountable.?
7? The Mystery of the Missing Morale?
?? Leader Fix: Recognition isn’t just for big wins — small wins need high-fives too.?
?? Team Fix: If leadership won’t do it, hype up your co-workers. “Ana, you nailed that email.”?
8? Conflict? What Conflict? (Oh, That Conflict.)?
?? Leader Fix: Teach conflict resolution. It’s either healthy discussion or passive-aggressive carnage.?
?? Team Fix: Don’t stew in silence. Address issues before resentment builds a nest.
9? The “Sink or Swim” New Hire Strategy?
?? Leader Fix: Train people properly. You don’t need another lost soul wandering the office.?
?? Team Fix: Be a buddy, not a gatekeeper. Help newbies before they cry in the supply closet.?
10 The Office Feels Like a Monday... All. The. Time.?
?? Leader Fix: If your team looks like extras from The Walking Dead, maybe it’s a burnout issue??
?? Team Fix: Speak up! Work-life balance isn’t just a theory!?
?? TL;DR (Too Long; Didn’t Read) Dysfunction kills productivity and happiness. Fixing it doesn’t take magic — just better communication, clear expectations, and a little team-building fun (yes, even for the sceptics!).?
?? What’s the biggest team dysfunction you’ve experienced??
Drop it in the comments below!
?
?
?
Leadership & Culture Coach, Extended DISC Accredited Consultant, BAS Agent
1 周I love your format avoiding the TL;DR. Thank you for bringing some humour to leadership.