Having just completed a major downsizing of our sales organization, morale is the biggest team building issue we are currently facing. Many of our managers were demoted down to reps as a result, and some are now reporting to managers who have less management experience than the demoted DM has. What can our organization do to get this team back on track?

Team Doc answers… How To Get Back On Track After A Team Shake Up

While I was away, my incharge felt that her colleague did not handle a customer situation as she would or as quickly as she would have done. Instead of talking to him the emails flew back and forth. The colleague, who really did not handle the situation well and did not take the criticism well from the incharge, and instead of talking to the incharge, went around to other staff members blasting the incharge for the way she criticized him. So now there are factions in the staff and the communication is really bad. How do I bring the factions together and bring the communication and team work back to where it was before I left.

Team Doc answers… What To Do When Your Team Falls Apart While You’re Gone

I am interested on your thoughts about ” The team working together.” How can you keep it simple but still hear everyone’s opinion without bad conflicts?

Team Doc answers… How To Make Sure Every Team Member Gets Heard

I’m an HR Manager. The General Manager of our company goes out of his way to build teamwork among his direct reports. His reports are seasoned, talented, long term employees who have been with the company longer than both of us. The previous culture was, “we don’t care about the problem, just who can we blame.” He is trying to break this habit and encourage problem solving and prevention, but his direct reports continue to fight each other and run to him to report on each other - sometimes with inaccurate information and without previously discussing with their peer. He spends a lot of time seeking the truth, coaching, focusing them on problem solving and attempting to make peace. But they remain resistant to getting along together! It seems they like to fight! How can I help him?

Team Doc answers… How To Shift Your Team Away From The Blame Game

I am hiring a completely new staff for a facility that has not opened yet. The professional staff is easier to select but the paraprofessional staff is tricky. Also when we start bringing staff in I want some good team building exercises for orientation. Any suggestions?

Team Doc answers… How To Effectively Staff A New Team

I am the only female in the team of advisers. We have small team. My role is Change Management and Institutional development. My roles and responsibilities are not clear in the project perspective. I have shared this many times, but there is a blame from the leadership that I am not professionally capable. My acceptance to the team is also compromised as they are not clear about my role so they do not pay attention to keeping me in loop for any communication. The team leader, who has a role of mentoring is a foreign expert, does not communicate with me, and keeps on ignoring me. How can I tell my other colleagues to to listen me and work with me unless team leader clarifies my role? He does not give me clear and straight instructions/suggestions/advice to move on in right direction.

Team Doc answers… What To Do When You’re Left Out Of The Team Loop

Two months ago I started a new job as sales manager. I have three direct reports who for the last nine months reported directly to the VP of sales. From the outset I was taken aback by the arrogance of the whole team who made it clear that they got rid of the last sales manager as he asked them for forecasts and other reports that they were not prepared to do. The team is doing very well and over achieving their targets but they are actively excluding me from what is going on within their business and — surprise surprise — going straight to the VP. I know I can add value to what they are doing but it makes it very difficult as it feels like I am pulling teeth or holding an interrogation session just to get an update. Sure, I get their forecasts and reports but with such scant information that it is of little use to me or the business. I have managed sales teams for years but I have never experienced this kind of hostility and would be grateful for any help you can offer.

Team Doc answers… What To Do When Team Members Intentionally Ignore the Team Manager

My staff needs customer service training so that when I send them out “into battle” and I am not able to be there with them when they are confronted by upset customers they can be successful. They are open minded and want to help the customer, but need reassurance. How can I build their confidence to just deliver the “service” without so much hesitation?

Team Doc answers… How To Build Confidence In Team Members

I hear all this hype about web 2.0 social networking. Is there a place for this in my team?

Team Doc answers… How to Integrate a New Team Member Using Web 2.0 Social Networking

Today’s workers seem really disengaged in the workplace. That manifests itself in poor customer service and employees who just don’t care. How do we fix that?

Team Doc answers… How To Deal With Worker Dissatisfaction