How would I manage this situation if I was the leader? What would I consider? What steps would I take? What would be the expected outcome? If the approach does not work, what would be a back up plan.
What Would You Do?
You are the leader of a 6 person team. The team all works out of an office in NJ. The team is made up of the following people:
John - 43 year old (Afro-American)
Julie - 51 year old (Chinese)
Jinsoo - 27 year old (Korean)
Dariel - 32 year male (Iranian)
Helena - 30 year old female (Indian)
Tom - 33 year old (Irish)
Dariel and Helena joined the team 6 months ago. The rest of the team has been together for 9 months. The team has been working on a critical project that is due to be delivered in 30 days. You, as the leader, have a lot riding on this project including a promotion and bonus.
Dariel and Helena have unique skills and experience that require them to work together on a key part of your project however, they do not get along and have been bickering and complaining about each other for the last month or so. Today, Harpreet complained to you that Darius, as a Muslim, has been deliberately undermining her and does not respect her because she is a woman and a Hindu.
The rest of team is becoming distracted by the situation and your project is getting off schedule.
What do you do?