Teams365 Blog - POTENTIALS REALIZED

#Teams365 #628: 3 Focus Areas for your Team this Fall - Sunday Audio

9/20/2015

it would be really easy to create a long laundry list of things for you and your team to focus on this fall. There is always some new red,, shiny object. As a former team leader myself I am a firm believer in keeping things simple, in being integrative, rather than additive.

So this week's Teams365 Sunday audio (6 min) looks at 3 core areas for you to explore and possibly invest in with your team this fall. We're going back to the basics - Goals, Connection and Commitment. Together they form a powerful triad to focus on, and support what the team effectiveness research says leads to high performance.

Listen in:

Practically, what can you to support the team in these three areas?

Have a great Sunday,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Coaching Skills Training | Leadership Development | Teamwork
Growing Team Leaders, One Conversation at a Time(TM)
Contact us to discuss coaching or performance needs for your and your team
Phone: (416)996-8326

#Teams365 #627: 6 #Leadership Questions - Onboarding New Team Members

9/19/2015

This week's 6 Leadership Questions explores the topic on-boarding new team members. These are six potential questions you can use to spark dialogue and discussion.

1 What does the person need in order to get up to speed quickly?
2. Who are key members the person needs to meet?
3. What are the top 5 things they need to know?
.4, What expectations do I need to clarify?
5. What are the key processes they need to master?
6. What are their top 3-5 goals (individual/organizational and team)?

What other questions do you want to make a practice of incorporating into some of the initial 1-1s with new staff members. For more on onboarding, check out these past blog posts.

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Mentor RoadMap(TM)
Looking to spark more conversation with your team? Consider the Conversation Sparker(TM) Cards
Set up a conversation about how we can support you and your team best
(416)996-8326

#TEams365 #626: LEadership Toolbox - difficult Conversations

9/18/2015

If I were to identify one area earmarked as a "must have more of" from leaders it is resources and practice in holding difficult conversations. Consider your work right now, what difficult conversations are needed this week? Next week?

Newer leaders, and sometimes even very seasoned leaders, are uncomfortable and not confident in raising the issues that need to be raised. For those that are looking for more resources on this topic, I would encourage you to check out:

Crucial Conversations by Kerry Patterson, Grenney, McMillian and Switzler

Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott

Thanks for the Feedback - the Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well - Douglas Stone and Shelia Heen

Difficult Conversations - How To Discuss What Matters Most - also by Doublas Stone

The Discomfort Zone - How Leaders Trun Difficult Conversations into Breakthroughs - Marcia Reynolds

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Coaching Skills Training | Leadership Development | Teamwork
Growing Team Leaders, One Conversation at a Time(TM)
Contact us to discuss coaching or performance needs for your and your team
Phone: (416)996-8326

#Teams365 #625: Team Building Tip #54: mindsets, Behaviors and Results

9/17/2015

Today's team building tip gets us to look below the metaphorical "waterline". Every day we come to work with not only action, but a mindset. From being jazzed, to thinking things are a drag, to being excited to feeling anxious, our mindsets shape the way we approach our work. Our mindsets include things such as our values,our belief systems, our assumptions. They are often deeply rooted and we may not consciously be aware of them. In turn our mindsets shape our behaviors, which then shape our results.

Consider this, Lee is a new team leader. He is driven by values around collaboration, relationships and excellence. His focus is usually on relationships first, which creates a bit of a blind spot around goal achievement. As a new team leader he becomes more aware of how his strength around relationships is a natural for him. He finds it easy to hold one on ones, and call stakeholders out of the blue. What is important for him is to connect these every day habits with the productivity side of his work - getting things done, and focusing the relationship conversations not only on how people are feeling, but what they are achieving.

Another new team leader is Jane. Jane values excellence and getting things done. She is exceptional at what she does but does not notice the impact she has on others. To her faster is better. What this translates to is quick results, shallow relationships with team members and sometimes mistakes. Over time Jane becomes more aware of how her value getting things done faster and quicker needs to be toned a little bit, to ensure that results are also blended with a relationship focus.

Today's post encourages you as individuals and as a team to think about the mindsets you are adopting in your work. What is it that you bring in terms of thinking every day? How does it shape your behavior and results?

Enjoy this week's Team Building Conversation!

Warm regards,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Coaching Skills Training | Leadership Development | Teamwork
Growing Team Leaders, One Conversation at a Time(TM)
Contact us to discuss coaching or performance needs for your and your team
Phone: (416)996-8326

#TEams365 #624: Micro-Moments Change the Path

9/16/2015

Barbara Frederickson has done extensive research in the area of positive psychology and also around relationships. One of the central themes here at the Teams365 blog is that exceptional teams have strong connection.

Here's what she writes in her book Love 2.0.
"Love, as your body experiences it, is a micro-moment of connection shared with another. And decades of research now shows that love, seen as these micro-moments of positive connection, fortifies the connection between your brain and your heart and makes you healthier. [...] It can seem surprising that an experience that lasts just a micro-moment can have any lasting effect on your health and longevity. Yet there’s an important feedback loop at work here, an upward spiral between your social and your physical well-being."

Since taking a course with Dr. Frederickson earlier this year I have been struck by this idea of micro-moments. I've seen it play out in my work over the years with teams and groups globally. As written above, the micro-moments, or nanoseconds of deep connection amongst team members, can have significant impact for leaders. Over the last six months I have been checking in anecdotally with leaders and coaches who work with teams to hear what they have noticed about these micro-moments. The idea of micro-moments is extremely appealing in today's rushed world. It's also gotten people excited about spending more time to focus in on these short conversations with their teams - individually and collectively.

My question to you today is "What micro-moments have created a tidal wave for your team?" What have been those watershed moments where looking back, things took a significant turn. And recall, teams don't move quickly. It is often these small changes that make a big difference.

Please share your thoughts!

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Coaching Skills Training | Leadership Development | Teamwork
Growing Team Leaders, One Conversation at a Time(TM)
Contact us to discuss coaching or performance needs for your and your team
Phone: (416)996-8326

#TEams365 #623: Five Key Relationships

9/15/2015

Whether you are back to work or starting a new role, relationships are key in today's business context. As team leaders, we navigate a wide network for relationships, which you may need to call on at any given time. Five key relationships for team leaders to be aware of are::

1. Your team - What is the strength of these relationships right now? What conversations are important to have? What does your team rely on you for? What do you need from them? What preferences to do they have in terms of support, communication, connection etc?

2. Your boss - When was your last quality meting with your boss? What support do they need from you? What support do you need from them? What are their priorities this month/quarter? How can you help them be even more successful?

3. Your customers, clients other key stakeholders are also key players in your network. What conversations and touch points do you have planned or want to have?

4, Key project relationships - Consider other key relationships you have. What requires attention? Where can you lean into for support?

5. Your peers - As team leaders we also benefit tremendously from fostering a network of peers around us. Is it time to connect with some specific people within your network? What could you share about your current successes that would help others? What do you need from them?

To wrap up with one of my favorite business authors on the topic of relationships, here's what Keith Ferrazzi says:

“connecting. It’s a constant process of giving and receiving—of asking for and offering help. By putting people in contact with one another, by giving your time and expertise and sharing them freely, the pie gets bigger for everyone. This karma-tinged vision of how things work may sound naïve to those who have grown cynical of the business world. But while the power of generosity is not yet fully appreciated, or applied, in the halls of corporate America, its value in the world of networks is proven.”
― Keith Ferrazzi, Never Eat Alone: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time

Have a great Tuesday,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Coaching Skills Training | Leadership Development | Teamwork
Growing Team Leaders, One Conversation at a Time(TM)
Contact us to discuss coaching or performance needs for your and your team
Phone: (416)996-8326

#Teams365 #622: Key Items in getting Back to Work or starting a New Job

9/14/2015

The last week has ushered in "back to work" for many of us. it s also a popular time to start new role, or go through the 'onboarding" process. In past posts I have identified key activities you may want to undertake in the First 90 Days of a new role. September I feel also creates an opportunity to gt through some of the same foundation building even if we have been in the role for a while. This month is also a good month to get some fo these strategic issues on board before your calendar gets too full:

AS you move into your work this fall consider the following:
1. Establishing meetings with key stakeholders - internal or external. When was the last time you met and had a conversation with some of your key stakeholders. As you look ahead to year end and 2016, who is it important to have solid relationships with. What can you do to start building these relationships right now?

2. What processes do you want to brush up on? We can't be experts in everything and wen things are busy we may say we'll get to learning about a key function "later". Usually that later never comes. If you were to identify one key area as an area to learn more about, what would it be? When are yuo going to earn more about this Make an appointment and schedule it in.

3. What commitments are you making around being most productive? A reminder that hours plugged into a project does not always equal productive hours What's going to keep you renewed and "on top of your game"? If is getting out of the office at a certain time, or getting to the gym or pool a couple of times a week? Whether you are starting a new role or moving into a fall routine it can be very useful to consider the commitments which will keep you renewed and most productive.

4 What formal or informal learning opportunities are you going to create or yourself?. Whether you turn to a mentor or enroll into a class for yourself, expanding your horizons with new ideas, and sometimes different insights, is important in today's world of ongoing change. Each fall i return back to school for a professional development course - in person or virtually. This falls' course for me is about Resonant Leadership and Emotional Intelligence. No doubt these will be some fall theme areas at the blog as we haven't touched on ei as a while. I love it when I am able to slip into student role. Inevitably it fuels me, and also provide more that I am able to offer my clients What areas do you want to learn about this year?

Have a great start to your week!

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Coaching Skills Training | Leadership Development | Teamwork
Growing Team Leaders, One Conversation at a Time(TM)
Contact us to discuss coaching or performance needs for your and your team
Phone: (416)996-8326

#Teams365 #621: Back to Work organizing - Sunday Audio

9/13/2015

Keeping aligned with this week's theme of getting back to work, and into positive routines, with a focus on getting more organized. Today's Sunday audio delves into a handful of tips to support you with your office organizing. I'd like to invite you to listen into this week's 6 minute audio.

As you listen, which tips might support you best with your own focus, organizing and routines?

Have a wonderful Sunday!

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Coaching Skills Training | Leadership Development | Teamwork
Growing Team Leaders, One Conversation at a Time(TM)
Contact us to discuss coaching or performance needs for your and your team
Phone: (416)996-8326

#Teams 365 #620 - Workplace organizing and Routines - Leadership Toolbox

9/12/2015

How did your week go with your "back to work" routines? Were you able to incorporate something new or different this week? How productive were you? What worked?

This week's focus at the blog has been on developing routines that will work for you, providing you with perhaps less stress or better balance. Here are five resources you may want to check out as you move forward with developing new habits, or cultivating old ones:

Hellen Buttigieg Organizing Outside of the Box - Conquer Clutter Using Your Natural Learning Style - I had the privilege of running a joint program with Hellen several years ago and can personally attest to how her tips around organizing are really effective for professionals of all stripes. You can check out her supports at WeOrganizeU.com.

Charles Duhigg - The Power of Habit. View it on Amazon here.

Work Simply - Embracing the Power of Your Personal Productivity Style - View it on Amazon here.

Laura Vanderkam's 168 Hours and other books. View her books on Amazon here.

First Things First - Steven Covey and Roger and Rebecca Merrill. View it here.

AS I created this list of books this week what struck me as something I see in my coaching work - how one size does not fit all. Out of all the tips this week and the books you read, what's going to work best for you?

Have a great weekend,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Coaching Skills Training | Leadership Development | Teamwork
Growing Team Leaders, One Conversation at a Time(TM)
Contact us to discuss coaching or performance needs for your and your team
Phone: (416)996-8326

#Teams365 #619: 6 #Leadership Questions - Routines

9/11/2015

Today's six Leadership Questions a day focuses on this week's topic of back to work and establishing positive routines. Six questions for you, and your team to consider are:

1. What are the top 2-3 goals this fall around personal and professional change?
2. What routines will help you be successful with these?
3. What routines are working for you?
4. What routines are not working?
5. Which ones would you like to change?
6. What would this look like?
Finally, with whatever you decide to change in terms of routine, how can you sustain the focus and momentum? Who can support you in this?

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Coaching Skills Training | Leadership Development | Teamwork
Growing Team Leaders, One Conversation at a Time(TM)
Contact us to discuss coaching, training or performance needs
Phone (416)996-8326