Assessing behaviours: Challenges in shaping teams

Studies of human psychology make it clear that each individual is unique. One’s attitude and behaviour are so different and unlikely to be the same in two members. Team members come with varied backgrounds—education, and experience. So, it is unpredictable as to how they fit into the team. The challenge is to have united, competent, efficient and productive team members to achieve the set goals. Managers will have a difficult task of reconciling the different personality types.

The manager needs to spend significant time understanding and analysing members' attitudes and behaviours to bring synergy into the team. Generally, managers place more focus on strengths or accomplishments. However, the attitude and behaviour they exhibit in the team will have a greater impact on the performance. Both the positive mindset and the negative mindset appear in all human beings. Balancing or enhancing the positive mindset is the most essential for the success of teams.

The manager needs to assess which attitudes and behaviours of the members are positive and which negative qualities can influence the team's performance. Managers should be able to observe and arrive at a decision as to the probable hurdles that may arise due to the attitude and behaviour of the members. A few simple descriptions of members' attitudes and behaviour are worth considering while leading the team.

Performance: We all firmly believe that an individual’s performance is based on ability, but one’s attitude determines real performance. An individual's ability does not change on any day, but the performance will vary widely on different days. The difference is due primarily to the state of mind. The attitude is determined by oneself by controlling body and mind. One must be happy and enthusiastic to deliver the best performance in any endeavour on any day or situation. It is an individual's choice to move forward with a positive and winning attitude to accomplish the set goals.

Positive type: In the simplest sense, positive means always good. One should have a positive attitude to do well in work and life. Positive persons tend to be successful and will achieve good in life. Such persons will be more organized, efficient, outgoing, ambitious, proactive, concerned with time management, and more determined. The elevated proud type falls in the positive kind and the best one. They have high morals or intellectual value, are exalted, impressive, high flown, advanced thinking, idealistic, lofty, noble-minded, high-spirited, elated, etc. In a way, they are the role models.

Negative type: In the simplest sense, they are opposite to positive type. They are categorised into many types based on their attitude and behaviour in the workplace. A thorough understanding is essential to weed out negativity among the members and build the team to achieve excellence.

Disinterested: Disinterested means not being involved in a particular or whole situation. They are aloof, incurious, indifferent, not attentive and unconcerned. They may ignore others and distract themselves, too. It means not showing interest.

Quarrelsome: One who picks a fight quickly or disagrees, argues or fights. They are belligerent, contentious and pugnacious. It means having an aggressive or fighting attitude. Quarrelsome indicates readiness to fight without good cause. They repeatedly argue with others, being bad-tempered and argumentative.

All-knowing: These persons show that they are like God as all-knowing. These people think they know everything and refuse to accept any advice or information from others. They are egoist,  swellhead and self-centred.

Not agreeing: A person who consistently disagrees with everything with others is identified as a contrarian or someone with a contrary disposition. They enjoy taking such opposing positions during discussions and debates. Some may disagree with most views as a matter of habit.

Interfering: A person gets involved in other people’s affairs in an unwanted or annoying way. They tend to prevent something from working effectively or from thriving. Such behaviour causes harm to others, impedes learning or disrupts daily work life or life functions.

Crafty questioners: They are also called as clever, cunning, etc. They tend to achieve what they want cleverly, often by deceiving people. They are skilful in getting what they wish to direct or indirect or dishonest methods.

A true leader should strive to shape the members' character (behaviour and attitude) by upholding genuine values. Do not compromise for short-term results/gains. Educate the members to realise their mistakes and how one can be the loser and, many times, a victim too. 

Attitude is an individual choice, a major factor in becoming a good team member and reaching the desired success of both self and the team. One has to choose an attitude that energizes, enables and pushes for rewarding behaviour. Every team member must be watchful of one’s attitude and move away from the negative attitude and behaviour. Always remember that a negative attitude will bring you down every time and never allow you to grow. Be inspired so negativity does not find a place in work and life.