Teams365 Blog - POTENTIALS REALIZED

teams365 #3799: Friday Flashback – Looking at Strengths #3054

6/7/2024

#teams365 #3054 Strengths in Focus

“Focusing on strengths is the surest way to greater job satisfaction,
team performance and organizational excellence.”
– Marcus Buckingham

For the last few weeks we have been focusing on coaching and mentoring, both modalities offering an opportunity for leading with a strengths-based approach.

The empirical research around strengths is quite compelling. In times of disruption, change and transition, strengths are an important element to lean into.
Gallup has undertaken decades of research on the topic of strengths and has found that individuals and teams that are able to lead more by strengths, are:
•       6x more engaged
•       3 x more likely to report having excellent quality of life
•       8.9% more profitable
Also, teams which focus on strengths have 12.5% greater productivity
(Gallup Strengths Center)

During transition, change and disruption, collaboration becomes an even more important element to activate. Whether we are part of a partnership, or a team, it is important for explore what each person brings, and how these uniquely fit together.

What are you doing to explore strengths?

Jennifer Britton, MES, ACTC – PCC, CHRL, CPT
CEO, Head Coach and Author
Potentials Realized | Group Coaching Essentials
Leadership | Teamwork | Coaching
Contact: 1-416-996-8326
Email: [email protected]
Instagram:@ReconnectingWorkspaces @CoachingBusinessBuilder

Pick up a copy of Reconnecting Workspaces: Pathways to Thrive in the Virtual, Remote and Hybrid World at Amazon – https://bit.ly/reconnectingworkspaces.

Check out my latest TEDx talk – Coaching Teams Through Chaos at https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_britton_coaching_teams_through_chaos

Set up a call with myself or my team to learn more about how we can support you through our award-winning ICF CCE approved Coach Training programs – https://calendly.com/potentials-realized/group-coaching-essentials

teams365 #3764: Flashback Friday – Cartoon on Trust

5/3/2024

Keeping aligned with our recent theme around teams and trust, let’s take a look back at one of the other Teams365 cartoons which explores this topic. A few weeks ago, we looked at the Duality of Trust. This week we look at 9 core activities teams can lean into in order to build trust.

Last summer I shared with you a cartoon on Trust Builders which I wanted to revisit, given the importance of trust, and lack of trust, in teams.
Consider the things which are building trust in your team right now. What actins and activities are helping to expand trust?

Today's cartoon looks at 9 areas which can build trust in our work as team leaders. As you read through these ask yourself, where are you on a scale of 1-10 (with 1 being low and 10 being high):

Walk the Talk
Fairness
Build on Strengths
Take Ownership (For What Works and What Doesn't)
Fairness
Transparency
Creating Connections
Clear Expectations and Communication
Regular one-on-ones/communication

What do you see as key behaviors which you undertake to build trust on your team? What do team members do to build trust?

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, ACTC – PCC, CHRL, CPT
CEO, Head Coach and Author
Potentials Realized | Group Coaching Essentials
Leadership | Teamwork | Coaching
Contact: 1-416-996-8326
Email: [email protected]
Instagram:@ReconnectingWorkspaces @CoachingBusinessBuilder

Pick up a copy of Reconnecting Workspaces: Pathways to Thrive in the Virtual, Remote and Hybrid World at Amazon – https://bit.ly/reconnectingworkspaces.

Check out my latest TEDx talk – Coaching Teams Through Chaos at https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_britton_coaching_teams_through_chaos

Set up a call with myself or my team to learn more about how we can support you through our award-winning ICF CCE approved Coach Training programs – https://calendly.com/potentials-realized/group-coaching-essentials

teams365 #3757: Friday Flashback – TRUST In Your Team

4/26/2024

Trust continues to be a key topic area I hear from teams and organizations I am working with as a coach and team developer.
What are the core elements you are fostering to build trust in your team? Here’s a Friday flashback with a Teams365 cartoon around different ways to build trust in your team. Which of these 9 are you using?
Here’s a post from 2015 which I entitled the Duality of Trust – How are you building trust? What might you be doing that’s getting in the way of trust and destroying it?
Check out - https://www.potentialsrealized.com/teams-365-blog/teams365-512-relationship-destroyers-the-duality-of-trust-teams365-cartoon-14

Today's blog post is a "repeat" of the Teams365 Cartoon #14 called the duality of trust. Nothing erodes relationships faster than a lack of trust.
This cartoon highlights activities which can build trust such as:

Walk my talk
Regular, open communication
Recognition that is real
Follow-through
Trusts Others
Clear Expectations

On the flip side activities which erode trust include

No follow through
Little or no feedback
Team Favorites
Lack of transparency
Gossip
Doesn't listen

What activities are trust builders and trust destroyers on your team right now? What impact are they having?

This is a topic we explore in the Teams365 Conflict Management and Coaching Skills Training programs. Contact us to learn about our upcoming virtual and on-demand offerings of these programs, as well as customized coaching skills training for your organization.

Best

Jennifer Britton, MES, ACTC – PCC, CHRL, CPT
CEO, Head Coach and Author
Potentials Realized | Group Coaching Essentials
Leadership | Teamwork | Coaching
Contact: 1-416-996-8326
Email: [email protected]
Instagram:@ReconnectingWorkspaces @CoachingBusinessBuilder

Pick up a copy of Reconnecting Workspaces: Pathways to Thrive in the Virtual, Remote and Hybrid World at Amazon – https://bit.ly/reconnectingworkspaces.

Check out my latest TEDx talk – Coaching Teams Through Chaos at https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_britton_coaching_teams_through_chaos

Set up a call with myself or my team to learn more about how we can support you through our award-winning ICF CCE approved Coach Training programs – https://calendly.com/potentials-realized/group-coaching-essentials

teams365 #3752: Friday Flashback - TEAMS365 #256: ESSENTIAL LEADERSHIP READ - STRENGTHS-BASED LEADERSHIP

4/19/2024

Earlier this week our September Team Leader Breakfast Series focused on Strengths and Leadership. Click to listen into the 16 minute call here.

As we move beyond the individual realm, teams often find it very powerful to learn what each team member brings as their natural strengths and talents.

In today's business world it is likely that all team members will need to "lead" even without a formal title. Whether it's heading a special project, or coordinating a special event, helping each individual understand where their leadership strengths reside can be eye opening.

Strengths Based Leadership is an excellent read and will provide insights into your natural strengths. If you have not undertaken the StrengthsFinder 2.0 profile, it is a great opportunity to check that out as well. At the individual and team level these two resources can be very powerful in building teams.

Strengths are not just a "nice to know" but an essential lever for teams on productivity and positivity results. Here's what I've shared about strengths earlier this year:
The Case for Strengths - a post from February which explores why strengths are so important

Curious about how your team could benefit from some strengths work? Contact us to discuss a customized retreat or offsite program including a focus on strengths, planning, and team development.

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized - Leadership | Teamwork | Coaching Skills Training for Leaders
Supporting Team Leaders One Conversation at a Time(TM)
Consider joining us for the September 23rd start of the next Teams365 Coaching Group for Team Leaders (Tuesdays 5:45 - 6:45 pm ET/NY by phone)
(416)996-8326

Jennifer Britton, MES, ACTC – PCC, CHRL, CPT
CEO, Head Coach and Author
Potentials Realized | Group Coaching Essentials
Leadership | Teamwork | Coaching
Contact: 1-416-996-8326
Email: [email protected]
Instagram:@ReconnectingWorkspaces @CoachingBusinessBuilder

Pick up a copy of Reconnecting Workspaces: Pathways to Thrive in the Virtual, Remote and Hybrid World at Amazon – https://bit.ly/reconnectingworkspaces.

Check out my latest TEDx talk – Coaching Teams Through Chaos at https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_britton_coaching_teams_through_chaos

Set up a call with myself or my team to learn more about how we can support you through our award-winning ICF CCE approved Coach Training programs – https://calendly.com/potentials-realized/group-coaching-essentials

teams365 #3689: Revisiting the Episode 57 of the Remote Pathways Podcast on the Hybrid Work Styles

2/16/2024

For many teams today, chances are they are working in some hybrid fashion, even if they are back to the office most of the days of the week. That’s where our focus on the hybrid work styles has been this week, including a look at my 2021 quiz to support professionals in exploring what their hybrid Work style is. Check it out at https://quiz.reconnectingworkspaces.com/sf/56913b8a

Here’s what I shared earlier here at the Teams365 blog.

One of our most recent episodes of the Remote Pathways podcast is the Hybrid Work Styles Deeper Dive. In it we took a look at the hybrid work styles quiz I launched in the summer of 2021. It’s been a valuable framework for teams to engage with in their work, and return to office. I hope that you too will take a listen and engage with the quiz as a resource to support you.

You can listen to Episode #57 – The Hybrid Work Styles Deeper Dive at : https://www.remotepathways.com/podcast/ep57-a-deeper-dive-into-the-hybrid-work-style-quiztm

Last week at the Remote Pathways podcast we took a deeper dive into the Hybrid Work Styles™ Quiz. If you haven’t taken the quiz, be sure to check it out at https://bit.ly/hybridworkquiz.

The quiz explores five different types of hybrid work styles that are very present in today’s world of work –
1. Visionary
2. The Builder who loves to get things done
3. The Innovative Experimenter who loves to fuse things together
4. Culture Wizard who pays attention to how the team is doing and how the culture is evolving, or “How we do things here”
5. Connector who is often the glue of a hybrid workforce, connecting people, ideas and resources

What do you notice about your work style? How about the styles of the people you work with?

I want to invite you to check out the podcast where I talk further about why it’s important to understand our unique Hybrid Work Style and what we can be doing to adjust our styles when working with others.
Please take a minute to listen in!
Enjoy –
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, ACTC – PCC, CHRL, CPT
CEO, Head Coach and Author
Potentials Realized | Group Coaching Essentials
Leadership | Teamwork | Coaching
Contact: 1-416-996-8326
Email: [email protected]
Instagram:@ReconnectingWorkspaces @CoachingBusinessBuilder

Pick up a copy of Reconnecting Workspaces: Pathways to Thrive in the Virtual, Remote and Hybrid World at Amazon – https://bit.ly/reconnectingworkspaces.

Check out my latest TEDx talk – Coaching Teams Through Chaos at https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_britton_coaching_teams_through_chaos

Set up a call with myself or my team to learn more about how we can support you through our award-winning ICF CCE approved Coach Training programs – https://calendly.com/potentials-realized/group-coaching-essentials

Teams 365 #3633: Flashback Friday – TEAMS365 #1089: WINDING DOWN FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND REFLECTING ON THE YEAR THAT WAS

12/15/2023

We're moving into one of those few rare weeks of the year where things slow down and I hope that you are getting ready to, or have started to wind down for the holidays.

If you're thinking of looking for more R and R (rest and relaxation) here's a couple of past posts you may want to check out, supporting you in reflecting back on the year that was.

Here's a link to the December 2014 Team Leader Breakfast Cafe which focused on reflecting on the year that was (15 minute audio). Check it out here

What's going to support you in truly disconnecting and recharging over the next few days?

Have a great holiday weekend,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, PCC, CPT
Potentials Realized - Leadership and Team Development, Coaching, Retreats
Author of Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Email us to find out how we can support you and your team in getting your best results through coaching, training or a retreat program
Looking for more cool things to do with your team? Check out our Potentials Realized store for books, emanuals, and the Conversation Sparker Cards.
(416)996-TEAM (8326)

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Follow us on TikTok at https://www.tiktok.com/@groupcoach
Phone: (416)996-8326

Reach out to book a conversation regarding how your team can benefit from the Everything DiSC. Send an email to Jennifer OR book a call

Check out my TEDx talk on Coaching Teams Through Chaos and the Six Factors™

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.

TEAMS365 #3318: Flashback Friday – Team Culture – Flashback to Teams365 #1526

2/3/2023

Today we are reaching back to share again Teams365 #1526 on Team Culture. I hope you have been enjoying the recent focus on team culture:
Team Culture: The Every Manager’s Desktop Reference defines organizational culture as “a set of shared values, goals, practices, and management styles that characterize an organization and are expected to be reflected in its public face and member behaviors” (pp 414, Every Manager’s Desktop Reference).

Today’s VUCA business context, characterized by ongoing change and flux, has pointed many teams to the importance of team culture. Our team culture may be different, or aligned with, our organizational culture. Simply put, team culture is “HOW WE DO THINGS”. It is the behaviors, practices and values which shape our every day interaction. Think about a team who has as part of it’s culture “customer service”. Actions and activities around providing exceptional service will be prioritized over ones that value quality and/or time, unless they are linked to customer service.

What are the adjectives that describe your culture?

Team Culture doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, and HR writers like Susan Heathfield reminds us “team members understand that 20% of the problems that they will experience as a team will fall within the context of the task or mission the team is assigned to accomplish. The other 80% of the problems they experience will relate to their team culture and the processes team members establish and commit to for interacting with each other as team members.” Link to her great article Team Culture and Clear Expectations at The Balance.com - https://www.thebalance.com/team-culture-and-clear-expectations-1919255

There are many different models of what comprises team culture:
Culture includes our behavioral norms and agreements - How do we do things here. What is acceptable and not acceptable.
It also includes team identity – How do I connect with others, how do we see ourselves
What we value: Culture is shaped by our values, beliefs and actions. It also includes our mindset. Consider what some of the mindsets are for you as a team. This might include: “We are able to flow with the changes that come our way” OR “We go above and beyond or “We rise to the challenge every time”.
When cultures are strong new members and external people can sense what our team is like. It’s almost a visible layer to others. This is especially true when we have a culture of collaboration, having each other’s back, or helping each other.

What's important for you to note and be in dialogue around as a team with respect to team culture?

Enjoy the focus!

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326

Check out my TEDx talk

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.

Teams365 #3220: Flashback Friday– Powerful Questions for Leaders

10/28/2022

Today we are going to head back to Teams365 #195 post on powerful questions for leaders. Last week I delivered a number of speaking engagements to leaders, and we spent a lot of time in each conversation around what makes for a powerful conversation with teams.

In our conversation we wound up discussing several of the powerful questions people like to use to stimulate dialogue (from the Greek words dia + logos – or “through speech”). It is through conversation that many create meaning and make sense of the world.

With this in mind, it’s even more important in today’s ever changing world to create new meaning.

Take a look at what I wrote in Teams365 #195:

As leaders we are often trained to make decisions quickly, to advise and provide our interpretation. When we coach others, we want to elicit the insights and knowledge of those we are working with, helping them to make better decisions and take more effective action

“As I write in From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching- Questions form the backbone of any coaching conversation”.

Coaching questions are typically open-ended questions. As illustrated in this week’s Teams365 cartoon, questions may be useful to stimulate thinking, to support action and also to build onto what team members may already know. Questions can also prompt new perspectives around approaches and solutions.

Sometimes known as socratic questions, the best questions may often be:

- Short in length - sometimes only 5-6 words

- In language that is resonant to the person being coached. The language you use when coaching team member on the shop floor may be different than the language you use with your admin support person.

- Provocative - encouraging discovery, new perspectives, challenge

Think of one of the best coaches you have had in your career. How have they used questions? What are the questions they used which really had an impact?

Now think of your experience. Which questions have you asked your staff which had significant impact?

Enjoy the conversation!
Jennifer

For a few more tips around powerful questions, check out this short YouTube Video I share on 20 of my favorite coaching questions.

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326

Check out my TEDx talk

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.

Teams365 #3142: Friday Flashback – The triad of a powerful presentation – The Open, Body and Close!

8/12/2022

It’s Friday which means that it’s time for another Flashback Friday. This week’s Flashback Friday takes us back to Teams365 #644. Here’s what I wrote:

“Whether you are giving an in person presentation or you are leading a webinar, a few key items can help you structure your presentation for clarity and impact. In yesterday’s post, I shared three items to keep in mind – including people remember the start and end of things, less is more and make it about your audience.

In structuring your presentation it can be useful to keep in mind a simple structure – open, body, close.

The opening of any presentation should not only capture people’s attention, but also encourage people to connect with the topic. Helping your audience consider, “What’s in it for me?” or the connection point will engage people right away. In the opener, you will also want to highlight where you are going and possibly your main points.

The body of the presentation is the core. Consider the use of visuals to support what you have to say and make sure your points are crisp ad relevant. As I wrote yesterday, we often try to fit too much in. Less is more. What are the key main points? Stick to these, What graphics will support this?

The close of any presentation should summarize where you have been and once again, what the main pints are. Notice how people have now had the main points reinforced three times – during the open, throughout the body, and during the close. Remember, people will be more apt to remember the start and close, so end it with a punch! What is your call to action and what action do you want people to take?

In terms of how much time to spend on each one – consider the 10/80/10 rule, a max of 10% of your presentation time for the open and close (each) and the bulk in the body.

What changes can you make with your next presentation, based on this triad?

Enjoy!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials

Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326

Check out my TEDx talk - Virtual, Remote and Hybrid Checklist

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon

#Teams365 #3135: Flashback Friday – 5 tips and 5 questions to make your meetings more effective

8/5/2022

Keeping aligned with our focus on meetings, here’s a number of quick tips to focus on, originally shared in Teams365 #960.

Five quick tips, and questions to consider, for making meetings more effective include:

1. Be clear on the purpose of the meeting. Is a meeting the best way to handle this?

2. Be clear on who needs to be at the table. Does everyone need to be there for the full meeting? Who might be needed in order to provide information? Decisions? Authority? Make sure you know who will need to be there or else it may mean another meeting. Having everyone there all the time may actually slow the meeting down. At this point, you will want to start considering who needs to be there, when.

3. What is the outcome you desire? What are the 3-5 tangible takeaways you want from the meeting? This question will help to reinforce what the purpose is, and who really should be at the table.

4. What decisions have been made? What outcomes are expected, and what are the timelines. Who is responsible for doing this? Tracking it? Reporting on it? What will follow up look like? Being granular in this stage is a key to success. Many times it is glossed over. Be sure to leave sufficient time to summarize key decisions made, and implications of this.

5. Keep to time - Time management is an art form with effective meetings. Being too lax with time can lead to frustration and disengagement. If timing tends to fall off , assign someone a time keeper role, and put your stronger facilitator in the chair seat to keep the meeting moving. Tangents don't always benefit meetings.

Check out the recent Teams365 blog posts here for more on meetings, as well as Chapter 18 of my 2021 book, Reconnecting Workspaces: Pathways to Thrive in the Virtual, Remote and Hybrid World.

Enjoy!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials

Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326

Check out my TEDx talk - Virtual, Remote and Hybrid Checklist

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon