In 1964 psychiatrist Dr.Eric Berne published a wonderful book Games people play in which he identified the different games people play, often unwittingly, in social situations based on his concept of transaction analysis. People in teams play games too including Freeloader, Pseudo-engager, Chase-me, Senior Partner, Inquisitor, Stop-Starter, Overcommunicator, Email Fixater and Attachmentitis.

One of the biggest problems in teams, communities and networks, whether co-located or virtual, is freeriding (aka freeloading or lurking or loafing) where certain team members do not pull their weight. Here are 5 things you can do about it.

Humans and other animals share a heritage of economic tendencies - including cooperation, repayment of favours and resentment at being short-changed according to an article by Frans B. M. de Waal in Scientific American, April 2005 issue

With 8 out of 10 staff resentful about freeloading colleagues and 1 in 4 of all jobseekers including significant lies in their CVs its no wonder organizational teams are struggling!

Addressing the problem of virtual team freeloaders

One of the biggest problems in virtual teams is freeriding (aka freeloading or loafing) where certain team members do not pull their weight.