Problem-Solving as a Team

1. Depending on my relationship with the person; as a person who

what senior to them or had supervisory responsibility to them I
would remind them about the companies policy for being on time
and ask if there were any outside circumstances causing the
problem that I could help to address, as a co-worker I would
simply ask them if everything was ok.
2. As a supervisor I would ask them to restate what was being said
during the time that they were engaged in their side
conversation, as a co-worker I would either ignore whatever they
were saying or acknowledge them and show that I was engaged
in actively listening to the main discussion.

3. As a supervisor I would explain the reasoning behind not

following their recommendation and thank them for offering
another approach, as a co-worker I would let them know that the
should address their concerns to the supervisor.

4. As a supervisor I would ask them for any possible pros and or

cons they can think of with the decision to facilitate them
engaging in further discussion. As a co-worker I would ask
leading questions to find out what their rationale was for the
decision.

5. As a supervisor I would ask them to take notes for the discussion

as well as contribute, as a co-worker I would ask other coworkers for their specific input on the discussion.

6. As a supervisor you could assign them responsibilities that would

come at the end of the job for it to be completed, as a co-worker
I would ask for their help with tasks at the end of the job.

7. As a supervisor I would remind them of my open door policy to

offer advice and assistance with personal situations and also any
resources that are available through the company, as a co-

worker I would listen politely and remind them that the

supervisor is always available as well as HR.

8. In a supervisory role it may help to assign them time critical

tasks or responsibilities that require more of their attention, as a
co-worker I would take personal responsibility for remaining
focused on my assigned work.

9. As a supervisor you could assign tasks that would require

collaboration to be accomplished and place responsibility for task
completion on the individual with the problem, as a co-worker I
would find opportunities to remind the individual of the good
qualities of the person they are having a problem with.

10.
As a supervisor you could take more control of the
discussion by raising a topic in email form prior to the meeting
and then review the high points of the email discussion and let
everyone know how to proceed without opening the topic for
discussion at that time, as a co-worker let them know that you
appreciate their insight into things and ask them to email you the
details to review later.

11.
As a supervisor I would remind them of my open door
policy to offer advice and assistance with personal situations and
also any resources that are available through the company, as a
co-worker I would let them know I was genuinely concerned and
that if they needed to talk I was available.

12.
As a supervisor you could assign leadership tasks to others
and specify that the individual was to follow their instructions on
a task, as a co-worker you could communicate the tasks you
have completed as well as any collaboration with others to your
supervisor directly.

13.
As a supervisor let the group know if the situation is not
open to a group vote, as a co-worker simply abstain from

participating in individuals call for a vote and thank the

supervisor for providing clear directions on the matter.

14.
As a supervisor I would remind them of the companies
policy on sleeping during work hours and my open door policy to
offer advice and assistance with any personal situations and also
any resources that are available through the company, as a coworker I would let them know I was genuinely concerned and
that if they needed to talk I was available.

15.
As a supervisor I would assign responsibility for time
critical tasks that required them the advise me of their progress,
as a co-worker I would ask for their assistance with specific tasks
that would offer an opportunity to engage with them.