Challenges In Team Building

While every manager strives to create a healthy and cohesive workplace environment, the unfortunate truth is sometimes this is not the case. Let’s look at some common challenges in team building!

Common Team Building Challenges

Even high-performing companies and organizations experience challenges in the team-building process. Common issues include poor communication, role confusion and lack of engagement. The issue for these managers is knowing how to recognize the warning signs and how to get the team back on track.

With strong leadership and guidance, your team can overcome any of these common workplace issues. Below, we’ll go over some common problems and ways you can tackle them.

Communication

A common cause of project or team failure is poor communication. A colleague that doesn’t share information or takes initiatives without anyone’s knowledge will jeopardize the entire team’s performance. Poor communication from managers tends to have the same effect – it can lead to conflict, tension and subpar results.

Effort needs to be put in communication more than ever today, especially with so many individuals still working remotely. Digital technology has made it easier to maintain open communications, so be sure to take advantage of this whenever necessary.

How To Solve This Issue:

Identify communication channels, responsibilities and expectations from the start.
Circulate written records of team meetings to all employees.
Utilize virtual meetings every week to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Lack Of Trust

Trust is one of the pillars of a healthy work environment, and it creates a foundation to success. Simply put, a lack of trust between team members can create an unwanted toxic environment. When this is the case, communication and collaboration become nearly impossible.

Trust is not something that simply happens, though. Trust needs to be nurtured and earned over time. These connections should happen naturally as co-workers get to know each other. It’s the management team’s responsibility to give employees the right conditions for this to occur.

How To Solve This Issue:

Always be willing to listen and encourage others to do the same.
Promote regular and open communication with the entire team.
Set clear roles and expectations from day one.

Role Confusion

Overlapping responsibilities tends to cause mistrust and complete chaos in the workplace. Confusion regarding specific roles can threaten the team’s overall cohesiveness and ability to function as a whole. Thankfully, it is possible to overcome this specific challenge.

How To Solve This Issue:

Ensure all team members have defined responsibilities and roles.
Managers should monitor progress, but refrain from micromanaging.
Every task/function needs to be explained in detail and shared with the group.

Unproductive Meetings

One common complaint from disgruntled employees is the constant time-wasting, unproductive meetings. Many staff members will become frustrated whenever their attention is diverted from more important and time-sensitive tasks.

Undoubtedly, regular meetings can serve a valuable purpose. These meetings should be used to discuss communication channels and project management. Refrain from wasting the employees’ valuable time.

How To Solve This Issue:

Plan in advance to make sure every meeting is necessary.
Record the main points of the meeting and distribute them to the team afterwards.
Review your meetings by asking employees for feedback.

Lack Of Engagement

Team members becoming disengaged is an all-too-common reality. The group may have become fragmented, broken down into different fractions. Bringing the team back together is much more challenging than keeping everyone together from the start. Mix things up at meetings to see if new learning activities can unite the group.

How To Solve This Issue:

Try some team building activities like trivia or a scavenger hunt.
Always include any remote workers in conversations or brainstorming exercises.
Go around the room and have everyone share an interesting tidbit about themselves.

Common Team Building Challenges

Communication

Lack Of Trust

Role Confusion

Unproductive Meetings

Lack Of Engagement

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