In our last post, we looked at what Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) theory is and how in-groups and out-groups develop. Now, we are going to dive into how to use LMX theory to help your team.
One of the problems with LMX theory is that it doesn’t take into account that some team members may be truly untrustworthy and lack competence, and that a leader can’t always remedy that.
Instead of using LMX theory to make hiring decisions, it is better used as a tool to evaluate which people might have been misjudged or misunderstood. Leaders can think about where their evaluations of a team member might be biased and unfair, and offer them opportunities to grow and do their best work.
Improving relationships with outgroup members tends to improve their work, attitude, and relationships with other team members. If you feel that your team has been divided into in-group and out-group members, here are some thoughts for making sure that all team members have the opportunity to thrive.
Think about each of your team members individually, and whether they are in the in-group or the out-group. If they are in the out-group, why are they there? Is your opinion of them based on facts or perception?
Reestablish relationships with each of your outgroup members by creating time to talk and interact. They may be suspicious or aloof at first, so make sure that you are genuine. Learn what their goals are and what they expect from you as a leader. Seek to understand the root cause of any lack of motivation or lagging performance.
Provide training and development opportunities that are a fit for the team member and their goals, such as special projects, coaching, or mentoring.
Think about what leadership style might work best with this team member. Do they just need encouragement and support? Or do they need more hands-on training and clear expectations?
If there is broken trust between you and the team member that needs to be rebuilt, start by giving the team member small, low-risk responsibilities and working up.
Chew On This:
What is one step you can take this coming week to begin to reestablish a relationship with an out-group member?