Our trainees seem to have an infestation of gremlins. They cause problems. They make people miserable. They generate anger, frustration and embarrassment. So, what kinds of gremlin are infesting the team and how is it tackling them?

The time gremlins
Time gremlins torment Gregory and Soaps. Gregory still hasn't got to grips with turning up on time. The only way he'll be able to sort himself out is to take charge of his life. But he doesn't believe that he can, so the gremlins will be with him for a long time.

With only a couple of hours sleep a day, Soaps struggles to turn up, stay awake and do the job. Burning the candle at both ends is her decision, but it's giving the gremlins a permanent hold.

The communication gremlins
Good teamwork needs good communication. Our trainees have to beat the communication gremlins if they're to succeed. They might well do it. They're starting to work together and exchange ideas. They're listening more carefully to instructions and helping each other out.

But on a bad day, it's the same old story. They talk a lot but they don't listen. They interrupt and talk over each other. They shout. They take comments personally. They get defensive. They bicker. Fingers crossed that there are more good days coming than bad.

The attitude gremlins
These gremlins appear like magic when things get challenging and motivation dips. Greg and Lauren see a lot of them. And, after his disastrous spell as team leader, they're beginning to have a go at David.

When they're around, Greg gets defensive and puts on his 'macho man' cloak to hide his real feelings. Lauren slips into the 'I need help' routine. She leaves it to others to sort out her mistakes or deal with occupational hazards like spiders. And David starts making silly mistakes, like drilling holes for ceiling lights in the wrong place.

But these gremlins aren't having it all their own way. Lauren is fighting back. She's out to prove that she's up to the job. So it's out with the gremlins and in with determination and effort. Her reward? Moving up the league table and finishing a job that Hannah struggled with for a whole morning.

The standards gremlins
These short cut kings work hand in hand with the attitude gremlins. They haven't left our trainees alone since they started working on-site. They're responsible for some major problems - inaccurate measurements, damaged plasterboard, twisted door frames, broken screws, dangerous electric sockets and mismatched pipes.

There's only one way for the team to conquer these gremlins. It has to stay focused. It has to concentrate on the task in hand and pay attention to detail. The gremlins will take over if anyone in the team ignores even the smallest detail in the plans, spoken instructions or feedback.

Beat your gremlins
Are you struggling with your own gremlins? If so, remember:

• that no gremlin is invincible – there's always something you can do to get rid of it
• that you have real choices – you just have to work out what they are and which one is right for you
• that there's a lot of help out there – check out the links on this site
• that what happens is up to you – if you don't like your life, be brave and change it.