, , , , ,

Non-Productive Team Members – Who’s Responsible?

By Kathy Martucci, PMP

What’s the first thing that pops into your mind when someone speaks of a non-productive team member? Is it, “Well, he needs to shape up!”?

Maybe, maybe not. We can all agree that ultimately the team member must be productive or leave the team for the good of everyone. But who is responsible for identifying the nonproductive behavior and providing an environment and actions to correct it?

Perhaps the responsibility rests with fellow team members.  If individuals want to be part of a successful team, they take the initiative to find out why a team mate is struggling. Therefore, a team member who doesn’t take the initiative because it’s not their job (or for a host of other reasons) is not functioning as a productive team member either. It’s this responsibility for each other’s performance that differentiates a team from other business units.

If the issue can’t be resolved at the team member level, it must be escalated to the project manager before the teammate’s nonperformance hurts the morale and/or work product of the team.  So, then what? Some of the strategies that can be employed to resolve the problem are as follows:

  • Be brutally honest about where the problem is

If the real cause of the behavior is truly outside of the person’s control, admit it and seek to fix it. If it lies within the person’s control, be clear about it and craft an action plan that can be followed to improve performance.  Set a reasonable deadline to measure that improvement.

  • Be empathetic, but not wimpy

Show sincere regard for the person’s performance and an honest desire to guide her to the desired performance. At the same time, be clear that the team can’t be negatively impacted while one person is making adjustments.

  • Be inventive

Unforeseen circumstances are typical of projects. And people are the vital ingredient in projects, particularly when trying to solve problems. Encourage the non-productive person to fully contribute to the action plan and its implementation and evaluation.

  • When all else fails

If you’ve exhausted all reasonable avenues, make a decision and stick by it. Decisive action on a nonredeemable team member will benefit both the team member (whether he admits it or not) and the team who wants to hit the level of performance required by any project.

Blog_Bottom_Divider_BFull Course: Developing High‐Performing Teams (1 day)

Full Course: Leadership Lessons That Work (4 days)

Click here for our full list of available courses!

/by