Project team management

Anish -

Kudos to Sante for highligting the importance of ground rules established by the team covering such common situations. I also recommend the PM to cover these ground rules as part of the onboarding for any new team members.

Having done that, expectations have been set, so if there is a variance then the PM should seek to understand why the team member is behaving that way, address any blockers which might be causing the team member to behave that way, and engage the team member's people manager (assuming a matrix organization) at the right time if direct conversation is not resulting in the right changes.

Kiron

The reality of the matter is that you can't stop people from talking, complaining or not being open/honest with you.

I agree with setting ground rules and providing open forums to allow all team members to voice their opinion (you always want to hear what's on people's mind).

What I would suggest, is that you find out why they didn't come to you directly:
- are they unaware of the available channels of communication?
- are you intimidating them in some way? or feel they can't openly discuss the issue?
- are they looking to move up/out - ie.: self promotion
- is it just their base nature

Remember that you can not change other people to any large degree, you can only change how you react. Depending on how you react will determine how the team reacts in the future. Show that you are open to any type of communication or discussions and people will more likely come to you first.

Sante, I agree about ground rules. What if it's already established and still going over your head?.

thanks
Anish

I've never seen ground rules that included "talk only through the project manager". I'm with Meade on this one. Ask yourself what you did, or didn't do, that contributed to the person circumventing you.

Thanks Sonali for your response.

Use Conflict Management skills/methods for resolving. This sounds like pure conflict.

Circumstances dictate: Compromise, accommodation, avoidance, collaboration, or forcing. If you take a direct approach, never alienate. Remain inclusive and justify your solution with facts and objectivity. Other Team members will recognize as it will help maintain morale.

Larry

On the contrary, I have ground rules about communication within the team, and that includes going to the PM and team members before complaining or raising issues to stakeholders. I have lost count of the times stakeholders have come to me and said "why is so and so coming to me rather than you or your team".