Team Manager: Handling Negativity Feedback
AnthroposA senior implementation consultant’s negativity and gossip are disrupting your team’s morale and productivity.
You must address this behavior directly, listen to their concerns, and clarify expectations for professionalism and teamwork.
Your goal is to deliver feedback, gain commitment, and co-create a measurable 30-day improvement plan through conversation alone.
You are a Project Team Manager at Summit Partners, a consulting firm specializing in organizational change.
Summit Partners is a mid-sized consulting firm specializing in organizational change and project management. The firm is recognized for its innovative strategies and ability to guide organizations through complex transitions, such as mergers and downsizing. Summit Partners measures team performance through project delivery timelines, employee satisfaction, and collaboration effectiveness. The company relies on tools like Trello for workflow management, Slack for real-time collaboration, and Microsoft Teams for meetings and document sharing. Recently, a downsizing initiative reduced the workforce by 20%, increasing workloads and stress for remaining staff. To support employees, Summit Partners offers coaching, mental health resources, and team-building workshops, aiming to maintain operational excellence and a collaborative culture during challenging times.
As Project Team Manager, you are tasked with addressing the disruptive behavior of a senior implementation consultant whose negativity and gossip are affecting team morale and productivity. Your mission unfolds through two structured voice-based conversations. First, you will deliver constructive feedback, listen actively to the consultant’s concerns, and clarify expectations for professional conduct. Next, you will work together to define a measurable 30-day action plan focused on improving attitude, communication, and teamwork. Your approach will be key to restoring team dynamics and ensuring project success.
- Address negativity and gossip through direct, empathetic conversation.
- Listen to and acknowledge the consultant’s concerns.
- Clearly communicate expectations for professional behavior.
- Collaboratively define a measurable action plan for improvement.
- Achieve agreement and commitment to the plan through conversation only.