How Do You Fix An Ineffective Team?

After discussions with the president, PDServices implemented a cognitive and behavioral traits assessment test with the entire executive team.  Each executive completed the assessment online and PDServices compiled the results.  The assessment provided a normative score for each trait.  Normative scores mean that the scores are calculated based on a bell curve of working population scores, allowing an effective point of comparison among the executive team members.

PDServices provided reports for each executive showing job fit for their role in the organization.   A team report showed how the executives’ traits related to each other.

Each executive’s assessment test results showed a good fit with their role when compared with typical benchmarks for their jobs.  The problem was exposed in the team report which showed each team member’s results by trait, plotted together on a single graph.

The entire team was high in cognitive and reasoning ability traits.  That was expected for an executive team and actually supports working together effectively since they all process information fairly quickly.

When reviewing behavioral traits, we noticed an outlier in traits such as Sense of Urgency, Assertiveness, Manageability, and Decisiveness.  The team scores clustered together toward one side of the scale, but there was one outlier at the other end of the spectrum for each of these traits.  As it turns out, the outlier score for each trait belonged to the same individual.

Remember that each executive fit their role pretty well.  The challenge is that their roles called for different characteristics.  The team included a few executives that were responsible for research, engineering, production, and financial roles.  Fit with those roles requires someone who is detailed, analytical, and structured.

The sales executive was the outlier on these traits.  The sales function requires quick decision making, multi-tasking, assertiveness, and a willingness to try new approaches.

Variance among team members provides an opportunity for synergy but also the risk of conflict and dysfunction if the team cannot deal effectively with differences in approach.

When PDServices first reviewed the results with the President, he had an “aha moment”.  He had been considering replacing the sales executive with someone who would work as more of a team player, not pushing back on other team members.  After seeing the assessment results,  he realized that the sales executive was the one team member who was pushing for more timely decisions from the team.  This was exactly what the team needed to improve.  He was about to replace the one person who could help the team improve.

The challenge this executive team faced is similar to any team with a wide variance in traits among team members.  If the team members do not recognize that they have differences in their core behaviors, leading to differences in approaches to business objectives and issues, the differences may seem personal, causing conflict and leading to distrust.  If the differences in traits are openly discussed and understood by all involved,  the differences lead to synergies within the team.

The solution for this organization was bringing the team together, reviewing the assessment results, the differences in team traits, and the impact on team performance.  Understanding the source of conflict made an immediate impact in cooperation and decision making within the executive team.  PDServices also recommended that the team discuss the differences in traits on a quarterly basis, knowing the importance of keeping those differences at top of mind to maximize the synergy.

Differences in people’s traits fuel the potential for synergy among any team but they can also be a source of conflict.  While you may think you understand your team members, it is very difficult to truly assess their core behaviors without the use of a scientific job fit assessment test.  Any team benefits from an objective assessment of each team member’s traits.  Open discussion of the varied traits of team members and how to leverage those strengths is the key to success.

For over 25 years, PDServices has been working with small and mid-sized organizations to improve their Workforce Management.  We help you hire, develop, and retain employees who will fit your jobs and culture.  This results in improved productivity, reduced turnover, and increased employee engagement.