by Catherine Malchaire
The subtle warning signs of a lack of cohesion in a team?
You know that feeling you sense but can’t quite put into words? And yet ! A team doesn’t fall apart overnight.
So, let’s talk about it:
1) Quiet quitting. People start doing just enough. They do the bare minimum, nothing more. And when you ask why they stay, it’s no longer “I love my team” but “it’s 10 minutes from my house.” Whatever happened to finding meaning in your work?
2) “Zombie mode” meetings. Nobody has an opinion. Zero debate. No one challenges anyone else. Most people are replying to emails or on their phones (or even playing Candy Crush). And if Marie and Thomas have a disagreement? It goes straight to the manager, who becomes the referee of their sandbox squabbles.
3) Telling absenteeism. In a team that’s falling apart: “I’ve got a bit of a headache. Right, I’m taking the day off.” Nobody stops to wonder whether their absence will leave the rest of the team in a tough spot.
4) Ghost team-building activities. Half the team finds an excuse not to show up. Or worse, they come because it’s mandatory and spend the whole evening saying they can’t wait for it to be over.
These weak signals are often noticed in companies. But they seem insignificant compared to the daily whirlwind of tasks to manage. So they get swept under the rug. We’ll deal with it later. Until the crisis hits: conflicts on all sides, sky-high turnover, performance in freefall.
If you recognise these signs, shall we talk? It’s not too late and it can be sorted out quickly, as long as you act fast.