What to do when the vibes are just - off

It can happen to any team. One minute you are all in flow together, collaborating well and slashing goals, and the next you seem out of sync.

Your people are not talking much, or they're snappy, projects are taking longer than usual to finish, and the tone of emails feels a tad harsh... do you see what I'm seeing?

What's a leader to do? This is what I would do.

1. Reflect on what is going on. Ask yourself: a) What is the emotion that you are sensing from your team?, and then b) What could have triggered this emotion?

For example, let's say you notice a feeling of disappointment in the team. You may reflect and realise that a much anticipated project milestone was not reached.

Or let's say you notice a feeling of irritation in the team. You may reflect and notice that the team seems most frustrated with a particular department or process.

Whatever it is you are noticing, it is important to name it as best you can so that you can explain it to your team well.

2. Address the situation head-on in a Team meeting or forum. To do this you need to explain what you have thought through in Step 1.

When you do this follow this process: I noticed over the last week or so that there is <name the feeling>. I think that this may be linked to <insert project / situation name>.

Here's an example: I noticed over the last week or so that there is an air of disappointment in the team. I think it may be linked to the project milestone that had to be pushed out.

Next, ask your team members if you got it right? This is very important before you go to stage 3. If your team says you did, move along to Step 3. If they say that there is something else going on, listen well and identify what the root cause of the challenge is.

3. Reframe the situation with your team. When I say reframe I don't mean paint it with a positive brush and ignore the reality. This is not okay. Instead help your team members see the situation from different viewpoints - what are the key lessons.

In the example of the project milestone, first acknowledge the emotion. It is normal and natural to feel disappointment when you are unable to meet a project milestone despite your best efforts.

You could say something like: Team, I realise that it was very disappointing to not achieve that project milestone. But let's look at this situation from a few different perspectives. It was positive that error in the code was picked up before we launched the course, project plans are our best thinking but we could not have foreseen the hidden complexity here. Allow time for your team members to share too.

4. Think about solutions. Ask your team for their ideas about how we can address these challenges moving forward. If they cannot think of something in the meeting, invite them to email you or chat during the work day when they have a gap.

In the example of the project milestone, we could work on a more credible estimation of the end date. This would immediately relieve pressure, and help the team to regroup. We could also look into additional support if needed.

5. Address it 1:1. In your next regular 1:1 meeting with each team member, follow Step 1 - 4. The reason we are doing this is to have the conversation 1:1, in case your team member did not feel comfortable sharing in the group discussion or couldn't be there due to diary constraints.

6. Follow through. If you have made commitments to your team in the team forum or in your 1:1, ensure that close the loop. Not doing so, may contribute to the types of vibes you are trying to get past.

Lastly, I would say give it time! Sometimes vibes are off for a short period and then it blows over. Remember, rainbows come after the rain :)

New workshop: INCOMING!

Keep an eye out for my November free workshop where we will cover the topic of:

How to Give Feedback in 3 Simple Steps

Gain Confidence to Facilitate Tough Conversations that Boost Performance.

Register here: https://leadwithsheree.com/free-feedback-workshop/

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