Turning Lone Wolves Into Team Players
Picture this scenario: A senior hire, full of enthusiasm and talent, joins your team. She’s ready to make a real impact, but her high-stakes project grinds to a halt. Why? A key colleague in another department refuses to collaborate, shuts down communication, and hoards information. After several failed attempts to connect, frustration sets in, and she’s ready to quit.
Sound familiar? Lone wolves in the workplace can derail progress, disrupt morale, and sometimes leave even your brightest team members questioning their place.
But here’s the good news. Turning a lone wolf into a team player isn’t just possible, it can also transform your workplace for the better.
Why Lone Wolves Aren’t Just an Individual Problem
First, let’s debunk the myth of the "lone wolf as a misunderstood genius." While independence and focus are valuable traits, lone wolves often neglect team goals. They work in silos, avoid collaboration, and fail to contribute during those make-or-break moments when the entire team needs to rally.
The ripple effect? Teams splinter, miscommunication takes root, and morale plummets. When non-team behaviour goes unaddressed, even your most cohesive teams can struggle.
The Transformational Roadmap To Collaboration
Here’s where things start to shift. With a mix of empathy, structure, and clarity, you can help lone wolves unlock their team potential. Here’s the step-by-step approach to make it happen:
Start With Empathy
Before you address the situation, set aside frustration and approach the individual with an open mind. What drives their behaviour? Are they feeling isolated? Misunderstood? Perhaps they’re unsure about their role or struggling with external pressures.
Real connection begins with curiosity, not assumptions. Consider the example of our senior hire. Instead of escalating tensions, we worked together to explore her feelings and needs, as well as the specific behaviours of her uncooperative colleague. This shifted the focus from frustration to constructive possibilities.
Face-To-Face Conversations Are Key
Emails and messages can’t solve deeply rooted collaboration issues. Make time for one-on-one, voice-to-voice, or face-to-face dialogue.
How? Lead with supportive questions. Instead of pointing fingers, ask about their goals, professional motivators, or pain points. For example:
- "What’s working well for you right now?"
- "Are there specific challenges you’re facing?"
- "How do you envision your role contributing to team success?"
This approach often reveals more than you expect, opening doors to practical solutions.
Revisit Team Goals and Roles
Often, lone wolves struggle because they’re unclear about the team’s objectives or their place within the larger mission. Clarify the "why" behind team goals and ensure each person understands how their contribution impacts success.
- Are they aligned with the team’s vision?
- Do they feel empowered to take ownership of their role?
- Are deadlines, responsibilities, and priorities crystal clear?
This isn’t just about accountability; it’s about creating a sense of belonging and purpose.
Identify Strengths (and possible mismatches)
What if the problem isn’t lack of collaboration but a poor fit for the person’s skills or interests? Sometimes, the lone wolf thrives in individual contributor roles rather than team-centric environments.
By digging deeper into their talents and career goals, you might discover untapped potential. Could another project or position bring out their best work? Reassignments, when handled strategically, can be a win-win for everyone involved.
Setting Boundaries and Promote Accountability
While empathy is crucial, it must be balanced with clear expectations about team behaviour. Lone wolves need to know which actions are non-negotiable, such as attending meetings, sharing information, and contributing during critical deadlines.
Set measurable goals for participation and include regular check-ins to ensure progress. And don’t forget to celebrate small collaborative wins! Positive reinforcement encourages consistency.
Why Addressing Lone Wolves Benefits Everyone
When lone wolves learn to thrive in teams, the effects ripple across your entire organisation.
- Improved Morale: Teams work best when they feel cohesive and supported.
- Enhanced Productivity: Clear roles and collaboration improve efficiency.
- Retained Talent: By addressing issues early, you prevent exceptional employees (like our frustrated senior hire) from quitting.
Closing the Collaboration Gap
It’s tempting as a leader to avoid conflict, especially when the lone wolf in question might also be a high individual performer. But turning a solo player into a collaborative team member doesn’t need to feel impossible.
Start with curiosity, build trust, and communicate clear goals. Who knows? The colleague causing so much friction today might soon become your team’s strongest ally.
If tackling workplace dynamics like this resonates with you, imagine the growth possible in your organisation when empathy and objectivity take centre stage. Reach out if you’d like to work on strategies that shift your team culture and empower collaboration at every level!