By Nancy Friedman, Founder/Chairman, Telephone Doctor Customer Service Training 

Certainly most, if not all, companies around the country have great TEAM PLAYERS. And we know who they are. Most folks never think, or even realize, they may not be a team player. Everyone wants to believe they are. Fair enough. But let’s talk ‘reality’. . . not everyone is a team player.

The overall definition of TEAMWORK is: “ALL TOGETHER WITH ONE COMMON GOAL.” And if that’s to happen, then we aren’t able to include the following mentalities and personalities.

Check your team. Are these traits in any of them?

• DEBBIE DOWNER – I’m too hot. I’m too cold. I’m too fat. I’m too short. I’m too tall. They manufacture negativity. And they’re difficult to be around. And to work with.

• THE GOSSIP – These folks don’t realize they’re doing it in so many cases. However, they tend to spread “I heard stories” – and we all know what that does. Good old MISCOMMUNICATION. The Gossip seldom checks out the ‘story.’

• THE CHANGE ALLERGIC – Got a new idea? New thought? New process? “Change” is a dirty word to these folks. Why? “Because that’s the way we’ve always done it.” You know the OLD saying: “If you always do what you have always done, you will always get what you always got.” And it’s difficult to “CHANGE” these folks.

• THE “KNOWLEDGE HOG” – They share nothing. They love to be the only ones who know how to do ‘IT’ (whatever IT may be). This person is reluctant to teach anyone what they do and how they do it for fear someone else could be better at it. Challenged with writing down their process, they tend to avoid that job.

There are other ‘not so great team members;’ however, these 4 are common and can jeopardize an office and team spirit in many ways.

Find out if you have any of these ‘detractors’ on your team. Then activate a way to help them. (It could be helping them out the door.)

Sometimes it’s simply not a good fit. Sometimes they’ll change. But, for sure, they are a detriment to the company.

Something to think about now, isn’t it?

The above content is taken from our popular “How to Be a Terrible Team Member” series on www.serviceskills.com, one of 15 series. Get your complimentary DEMO soon.

Now offering and specializing in VIRTUAL ZOOM programs and her fun WEBINARS.

Nancy Friedman

Nancy Friedman, customer service keynote speaker, is founder and chairman of Telephone Doctor Customer Service Training and a featured speaker at franchise, association, and corporate meetings around the world. A popular TV guest, she appeared on Oprah, The Today Show, CNN, FOX News, Good Morning America and CBS This Morning, as well as hundreds of other radio, television and print outlets around the world, including the Wall Street Journal, and USA Today. The author of 9 books on her chosen topics, Nancy helps corporate America improve their communications with their customers & co-workers. www.nancyfriedman.com