What is a key action in the Sustainment stage of team building?

In the Sustainment stage of team building, responding to subordinate problems plays a critical role in maintaining team cohesion and effectiveness. This phase focuses on ensuring that the team remains functional and engaged over time. By addressing the challenges and issues that arise among team members, a leader can foster a supportive environment that encourages open communication and problem-solving.

When subordinates encounter difficulties, whether personal or professional, their performance and morale can be severely impacted. By actively addressing these issues, a leader demonstrates empathy and reinforces trust within the team. This, in turn, helps to sustain motivation and enhance overall collaboration.

Additionally, handling subordinate problems can lead to proactive solutions, ensuring that these challenges do not escalate and disrupt team dynamics. This engagement with individual team members enhances loyalty and commitment to the group, solidifying the team's foundation for continued success and growth.

The other choices, while important in different contexts, do not specifically address the focused action relevant to the Sustainment stage. For instance, communicating expectations is vital during the initial forming and norming stages, while setting the example and implementing training exercises are more aligned with establishing and developing the team rather than sustaining it.