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Why Addressing Team Issues Often Backfires — And How to Avoid the Trap

Raising concerns about your team’s dynamics can backfire, turning the conversation against you instead of addressing the issue. This defensive response often happens because the message feels like a personal attack. Here’s how to handle it effectively: focus on the issue, not the people, use empathy, and avoid accusatory language to keep the team’s attention on the problem.

When you raise concerns about your team’s performance or behavior, it should ideally lead to constructive discussions and improvements. However, it’s not uncommon for these conversations to take an unexpected turn, with the spotlight shifting from the issue you’re raising to you, the messenger. Rather than focusing on the concern, people may become defensive, dismiss your message, or even perceive it as a personal attack.

Why does this happen, and how can you navigate it? Read on to learn why “doing the right thing” can provoke such defensive reactions and how to engage your team in more productive conversations.

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