5 Questions to Ask Yourself When You’re Frustrated With Your Team

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When facilitating Leadership and Management Training for a company looking to empower its management team, one of the issues was the frustration the managers were experiencing with their team.

Some felt that team members were not meeting deadlines or delivering quality work. They also found conflicts due to a lack of accountability, leaving them constantly “firefighting” instead of focusing on the business.

To address these challenges, we discussed the following questions leaders should ask themselves:

1. Have you been clear about the expected work outcomes?

One of the leaders admitted that they focused a lot on passing information on what needed to be done but neglected ensuring the team understood how their contributions added value and what success looked like. Constant communication is essential to keeping everyone on the same page.

2. Do I have reasonable expectations?

The sales manager realized that he had an experience in the past where he had a target that no one had achieved in the organization’s history and was double the previous year’s target. However, everything had stayed the same, including the resources.

It’s important to consider all factors, including providing guidance and resources to help employees meet expectations.

3. What do I know about this employee?

Knowing your team members and understanding what may be affecting their performance is crucial. If you notice a dip, have a conversation to uncover any underlying issues.

4. Am I focusing on results or how the work gets done?

“When the company did an employee satisfaction survey in our company last year, one of the things the staff complained about was micromanagement. The staff felt they needed to be trusted to do the work freely and be innovative. They also felt that some managers were following up on everything they were doing since they had a preferred way of doing things.” One of the managers admitted.

5. Am I holding everyone to the same standard?

Admitting personal biases around factors like gender or age can affect how work is allocated, impacting morale. Maintaining fairness is essential.

Conclusion

These questions can help cultivate a better organizational culture and drive better business results.

If you are a leader or have a team of managers you want to empower with leadership skills for organizational success, feel free to send an email to events@corporatestaffing.co.ke.