Tunnel vision

Managers act as liaisons between teams and the rest of the organization. Successful managers serve as liaisons between the organization and the group, translating and negotiating. No department operates in isolation. Decisions that annoy or make no sense to one team may exist to keep operations running smoothly. Managers frequently have access to information that employees do not. A manager's responsibility includes explaining the reasons behind these decisions to the team and assisting direct reports in understanding the big picture.

Yet, managers occasionally pursue their own aims with zeal, to the cost of other departments. These managers aggressively seek their own goals while showing little care for the interests of other teams. These managers defend their own teams at any costs, making excuses or covering up their employees' mistakes. They keep resources to themselves or refuse to assist other departments. Although direct reports appreciate their bosses for looking after them, these individuals are not well-liked by the rest of the firm. The supervisor gains from treating coworkers as rivals at the expense of the company's well-being. If only one team wins, the organization will fail.

How to fix it: Think on a grander scale. Pretend you’re getting transferred to a different department tomorrow, and ask yourself whether or not your new colleagues would welcome you if you acted this way. Build relationships with coworkers in other departments and communicate regularly. Forming a rapport will help you empathize with colleagues more.