Managing a team is a job not to be taken lightly. The manager must be able to recognize the qualities and strengths of each member of the team, and use them to the advantage of the whole team. However, when faced with problematic personality traits, this can become a real ordeal.

Communication is very important within a team, not only to maintain cohesion and avoid conflict, but also to reassure people and help them get to know each other. Communicating one-on-one with employees helps identify the cause of their behavior. Why are they negative, withdrawn or rebellious? Dialog helps to provide you with information about individual feelings, motivations, blockages and needs.

To deploy effective management, it’s important not to get emotionally involved, even if you’re at odds with a member of your team. It’s all about adopting a neutral tone and a positive attitude by asking open-ended questions, for example.

Essential in team management, empathy is defined as the ability to understand the emotions and feelings of others. This is a key element in managerial communication. You need to be able to identify the problem posed by your employee. Even if you don’t have the solution, you need to reassure him or her that you’re taking his or her concerns into consideration. Empathy helps us to better understand the difficulties encountered by each member of the team and to remedy them, while at the same time having a global view of the situation so that we can report back to management.

It’s all about convincing your team members to get involved. To achieve this, you need to remain positive and build your team’s confidence by giving them a sense of responsibility. Show them the value they bring to the project, and get them involved in a dynamic of collective success.

In a company, recognition for a job well done is of paramount importance. In this sense, the manager must be encouraging. It’s important to show that you appreciate their efforts, by reminding them of the results achieved and thanking them for their involvement in the project. The aim is to motivate the team and help them progress in their work. It’s also an effective way of reducing tension and developing group cohesion.

Are you in charge of an unmotivated team? Do you think a new manager is needed to give your team a boost? There is a solution: use an interim management firm. As a professional with managerial expertise, the interim manager implements and evaluates action and organization strategies. He or she has all the skills needed to alleviate crises encountered internally, whether it’s restoring balance to a team in difficulty, reorganizing troubled teams, creating a new state of mind or supporting a manager in difficulty.