Dealing with Team Problems: Lack of Commitment from Team Members

One team problem in the evolution of a team is a lack of commitment from team members. This is quite common and there are solutions to this problem.

What You See

What you may be seeing is team members skipping meetings or sending representatives in their place. There may also be a lack of support or open undermining of team decisions. At the team meetings members may appear withdrawn or preoccupied.

Possible Causes

Many teams experience growing pains once the hard work of taking actions starts. The two major causes are that the:

1. Benefits of achieving the team goal has not been sold.
2. Operating ground rules are not working.

Potential Solutions

The solutions are to address and clarify the team constitution and to ensure everyone’s collaboration.

1. Hold a team organizational planning meeting and review the ground rules of the team and discuss the key goal or improvement initiative. Review the benefits.
2. Confront team members on their commitment and responsibilities.
3. Discuss and solve schedule conflicts to ensure everyone participated in team meetings.
4. Ask members to verbally state their commitment to the team.