Keeping your wider team CLOSE:

Time and time again we meet people who comment on frustrations they have inter-department within their business. The price paid by the business through the loss of morale and productivity is significant, especially given that there are no clear winners from these frustrations. Here are a few reminders to keep in mind:

1. If you catch anyone in your immediate team (including you) saying things like “THEY do…” or “THEY don’t…”: STOP! As far as your clients are concerned, there is no THEM and US in your team: you’re ONE TEAM! Watch for this divisive language, it serves no one. Try saying: “As a business WE should…”and “I intend to work WITH our team to…”
2. Empathy takes time. Its very hard to have true empathy for another team and the pressures they face unless you see if first hand. Either shadow another team for half an hour or half a day to see the world from their perspective; or have someone in your team attend their team meeting to learn more; or have them attend your team meeting. Empathy is walking a mile in someone else’s shoes. Demonstrating empathy leads to deeper two-way trust.
3. Thank yous matter. There are times in a busy business that other teams have to step up and help you out, be it helping marketing dispatch catalogues, helping operations dispatch orders or helping sales by delivering more value to their best customers. We NEED other departments for us to REALLY prosper. So the next time someone in your wider team steps up for you, recognise their contribution and thank them, they’re much more likely to do it again if they feel appreciated.