When Body Odour Kills Projects: Why Personal Hygiene Is a Team Performance Issue We Must Stop Ignoring

“I can’t work with John. His body odour is killing me.”
“Her mouth smells… it’s hard to have close conversations.”
“The stench from our team lead’s feet could end a war.”

These are not high school jokes. These are real comments from adult professionals - working in corporate teams, driving high-stakes projects, and reporting to top-tier leadership.

And while they may sound humorous or petty, they’re destroying something we work so hard to build: psychological safety, team cohesion, and project success.

Today, let’s talk about the invisible saboteur of productivity - poor personal hygiene - and why it’s time for leaders, teams, and workplaces to start addressing it directly, not dismissively.

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This is Not About Shame. It’s About Results.

You can have the smartest minds on a team. The sharpest strategists. The most competent project manager. But if team members dread being in the same room with one another due to body odour, foul breath, dirty clothes, or foot stench - the project will suffer.

Let’s be honest:

• People stop collaborating.
• Subtle avoidance sets in.
• Conversations become clipped.
• Feedback loops break down.
• Resentment brews quietly.
• Meetings are rushed.
• Progress slows down.

Eventually, someone takes the hit. And it’s usually the deliverables, the deadlines, and the team’s reputation.

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Case Study: When Silence Cost the Company

A mid-size advertising firm in Nairobi once lost a major client after a pitch presentation was derailed. Unknown to the team, one of the top presenters had chronic halitosis (bad breath), and this made it physically difficult for the client reps sitting closest to him to focus.

They excused themselves before Q&A, and later shared with their contact at the firm that they found the whole experience “unpleasant and unprofessional.” The firm never got that contract.

The saddest part? No one had ever told the man. The team knew, but everyone was too polite, too unsure, too uncomfortable to bring it up. The silence cost them more than a million dollars.

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The Numbers Don’t Lie

• A 2021 UK survey by YouGov showed that 1 in 3 employees have felt distracted or repelled by a colleague’s body odour or poor hygiene habits.
• 60% of HR managers in the same study admitted they've had to handle at least one hygiene-related complaint in the past year.
• According to Harvard Business Review, “interpersonal discomfort” is among the top reasons for team dysfunction - and yes, hygiene is a big part of that.

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What Can Be Done?

1. Leaders: Confront With Compassion

If you're the team lead or manager, you set the tone for how such matters are handled.

• Don’t ignore it. Ignorance equals complicity.
• Call the team member aside privately.
• Speak calmly, kindly, and factually.
• Offer support, not judgment.
• Recommend medical help if needed.
• If it’s chronic and unmanaged despite interventions, HR must get involved.

Remember, leadership is not always about big strategy meetings. Sometimes, it’s about having awkward but necessary conversations to preserve team health.

“Leadership is not about being liked. It’s about being effective.” — Peter Drucker

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2. Team Members: Speak Up, Don’t Gossip

If you’re on the team and someone’s hygiene is affecting you:

• Don’t gossip or mock behind their back. That’s toxic.
• Speak directly or ask your team lead to intervene.
• Be empathetic - they may be unaware or have a medical condition.
• Offer practical help: a discreet hygiene kit, a caring suggestion, a pharmacist contact.

You owe your teammate the dignity of honesty, not the disservice of silence.

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3. HR & Hiring Managers: Hire Holistically

Make personal grooming, hygiene, and general self-care part of your interview and onboarding orientation - not to stigmatize anyone, but to:

• Set standards.
• Encourage open communication.
• Promote a healthy team culture from the start.

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This Is Deeper Than Soap and Deodorant

Sometimes, poor hygiene is linked to depression, chronic illness, financial hardship, or cultural blind spots. That’s why this isn’t about being petty - it’s about being people-conscious while remaining performance-oriented.

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The Win-Win Equation

When people feel safe, clean, and respected, teamwork flourishes.

When leaders care enough to confront, projects win.

When we remember that human dignity and professional excellence can go hand-in-hand, the workplace becomes not just productive, but transformational.

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CALL TO ACTION

Let’s not lose another contract, miss another milestone, or destroy another team’s spirit over what could be prevented, addressed, and resolved.

If you’ve experienced this, lead through it. If you’re affected, speak up. If you’re the one struggling, seek help.

There is no shame in this, only the opportunity to grow - and to help your team thrive.

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Let’s talk.
Have you ever encountered this in your workplace? How did you or your team handle it? What worked? What didn’t?
Share your thoughts in the comments or message me privately. Someone may need your story.

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#LeadershipWithImpact #WorkplaceWellness #TeamDynamics #ProjectManagement #HRMatters

personal hygiene, team productivity, workplace performance, leadership communication, project failure causes

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Mary Ewere

Copyrightⓒ 2025