Do you have a person on your work team that prefers to work alone rather than with the rest of the team? Many work projects require teamwork. However, your team may have a “Lone Wolf” in its midst.
It is difficult for some people who are used to working alone to switch to “running with the pack” and this can create conflict. However, you can work it out with “lone wolves” to help make the team successful.
4 Reasons Employees May Prefer to Work Alone
There are many individuals who enjoy working alone. This does not mean that they do not work well with others. It does not mean that they are antisocial either. They may just prefer working by themselves for any number of reasons:
1. They do not want to have to hold anyone else accountable
Some people like to work alone so that they are unaffected by anyone else’s accountability. They trust themselves, but may have been disappointed in the past by relying on someone else’s work that did not come through. To avoid this problem in the future, they have decided that the best way to deal with it is to work alone.
2. They can focus better and work more effectively
Many people work and perform better when working alone. They are able to avoid a lot of the distractions that come from working with others, and can focus and perform better.
3. They are more independent thinkers
Some people think more independently and find that their ideas can often conflict with those of a group. Their ideas may be “off the beaten path,” and create problems with the more general thinking and consensus that a group may have.
4. They may have a difficult time explaining their work to other people
Sometimes the work that individuals perform is more complicated, and may be difficult to explain to other people. This can make it tough to work in a group, and try to assimilate their work with the work of the other team members. It may be frustrating to try to explain the ins and outs of their work and how it connects with what the rest of the group is doing.
Helping the “Lone Wolf” with Teamwork
Here are some tips for easing the “lone wolf” into the team. You want the result to be “Teamwork” (one word) rather than “Team work” (two words)
“Teamwork” is sharing and working together and,
“Team Work” is each person doing their own work and then giving the work to the team.
Teamwork creates synergy among team members and integrates all of their talents. This takes time, effort, and a willingness to share. Therefore, the first thing is to get the “lone wolf” on board with the benefits of working together as a team. Here are some other tips that will help make the transition easier for the lone wolf.
- Make sure all team meetings have an agenda, start on time, and are organized and productive.
- Show appreciation for the loner who is out of his or her comfort zone. Your appreciation will encourage more sharing.
- Ask the “lone wolf’ for ideas and opinions during the meeting.
- Let the “lone wolf” know that you care about his/her work and respect the need for independence.
- Ask if there is anything you can do to make it easier for him/her to be an active part of the team.
- Tell the “lone wolf” not to be discouraged if conflict develops, as conflict is a natural process of working together as a team.
Just remember, different people have different ways of thinking and different experiences. Taking the time to encourage the “lone Wolf” to become an active team member will require patience and understanding, however the results will be rewarding for both the team members and the loner. When team members bring their personal wisdom to their team, they discover many innovative ideas. When team members work together as a team doing teamwork, they create a synergy that can produce amazing results.
