With every team or organization I have led there have been people who get frustrated with someone else on the team. In full disclosure, sometimes others have been frustrated with me.
Frustration is common among relationships. It happens within the healthiest of families—and the healthiest of teams. We certainly shouldn’t strive to frustrate others, but we shouldn’t be surprised when we do.
I have learned there are some actions that can frustrate people faster than others. This might be a good time to do some self-reflection. As you read these, don’t be quick to think of others—although certainly there will be some of this too—but consider your own actions when you (or I) may frustrate people on your team.
Here are seven of the quickest ways to frustrate another team member:
Promising to do something and not following through.
One of the quickest ways to frustrate people is to make a commitment and then not do what was promised. People are depending on each other on a team. When one person “drops the ball”—especially consistently—it impacts everyone. The Scripture says it something like this: “Let your yes be yes and your no be no.” It’s better to commit to less and complete them than to take on assignments and never see them to the end.
Saying one thing to one person and something different to another.
Healthy teams are built on trust. Trust is developed with time and consistency. No one likes a people-pleaser. This person is often popular for a time, but they lose favor as soon as they’re found out to be two-sided in their opinions.
Never being serious.
This is the person who embarrasses you by making awkward comments and includes you in them like you are part of it. Teams should be fun, but this person makes everything a joke—and other people are often the brunt of them. They delay meetings with their constant antics. It can be funny for a while, but it wears thin quickly, as it begins to delay progress toward a goal.
