Category: Focus

TEAMS365 #2211 – 20 for 2020 – Day 19: Week in Review

1/19/2020

It’s Sunday which means that it’s time to look back at the week. In case you missed some of the blog posts, today is your day to catch up. Take a look at:

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders | Remote Pathways Podcast
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Writing
Phone (416)996-8326

As we step into the start of the year, get your planning on with the PlanDoTrack Workbook and Planner or Coaching Business Builder
Looking to enhance your virtual conversations? Webinars? Pick up a copy of Effective Virtual Conversations at Amazon.

Winter 2019 programs start this week including the Coaching Biz Growth Lab (an annual focus on coaching business development), GroupCoachingEssentials (8.75 CCEs), the Advanced Group and Team Coaching Practicum (10 CCEs) and the Virtual Facilitation Essentials program (8.5 CCEs) - geared to support you in creating more exceptional virtual conversations. Finally the Mentor Coaching Group for Winter 2020 will begin - aimed at coaches who are working towards their ACC, PCC or renewing.

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TEAMS365 #2210 – 20 for 2020 – Day 18: Weekly Journaling Prompt 84

1/18/2020

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Happy Saturday! What do you have planned this weekend? When are you going to build in some time to reflect on your week?

Today’s Weekly Journaling Prompt gets you to think about your travels this year. The prompt is “My favorite trip this year has been….”. Travel has always been a passion for me, even when I was working and living overseas for more than a decade.

I love the learning and new insights caused by travel, as well as the freedom from my everyday routine.

I hope that this weekend you will find some time to reflect on your recent travels, and related insights/learning/observations.

With this now being #84 in the series, you may also want to dip into other posts including:
#81 – I want to put the following in my time capsule..
#77 – I am on the path to...

If you are journaling, are you also building in time to reflect and review what you have written? As you do so, you may want to be asking these questions:

What journey have you been on as you’ve been journaling?
What do you notice about themes across your writing?
What connections do you see across the posts?
What stands out/jumps out/emerges for you as you read it?
What is significant?

Enjoy the reflection,
Jennifer

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TEAMS365 #2209 – 20 for 2020 Day 17: Focusing in on Strengths

1/17/2020

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Supporting team members around strengths can help boost productivity, engagement and zest! What can we specifically do to spark that conversation? In today’s Flashback Friday post, I reach back to a post from 2017, where I shared the facilitated instructions from one of the exercises found in the 40 Ways to Work with Visual Cards. This exercise can get you sparking a new conversation around strengths. Here’s what I wrote in Teams365 #1387.

In today’s post, we’re exploring strengths for virtual teams. How do you make it happen?

Helping team members understand their strengths helps teams leverage their skills and harness their capabilities. Gallup has also found very compelling results when team members are able to bring their strengths to work every day.

In addition to the StrengthsFinder, teams may also want to investigate another strengths assessment that being VIA Strengths – Values in Action.

The following is a short warm-up activity to a more detailed discussion as a team around your strengths.

When I’ve seen you at your best….

Time: 15 minutes
Materials Needed: None

Instructions:
Virtual team members need acknowledgement as well, particularly as they may receive less feedback that teams who can see each other face-to-face.

Ask team members to think about one person on the team who they have liaised with, or worked closely with (virtually) in the last quarter. At one of your team meetings you will give people the opportunity to share with that colleague responses to the following questions:

I see one of your strengths as….
I appreciate …..
Going forward, as we work together, I’d like to ask you to ______
You bring ….. to our team.

This is an activity which will cultivate positive emotion and will bring team members closer together. Teams need positive reinforcement, as well as constructive feedback. For more on the concept of constructive feedback, check out the Foundations of Feedback series I did. It will be of interest to teams of all kinds who are hoping to build more of a feedback culture.

Enjoy your conversations,
Jennifer

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TEAMS365 #2206 – 20 for 2020 – Day 14: What’s below the waterline of your work?

1/14/2020

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Metaphorically, there are a number of elements “under the waterline” in our work that aren’t seen but contribute to both our behaviors and our results. In my 2019 work, PlanDoTrack, I encourage remote workers to think about what are the things that are shaping their behaviors, results and impact. This could include – habits, beliefs, assumptions, mindsets and values.

These become a rich focus area for the work I do with teams in Team Days and in extended coaching conversations.

Habits – the things we do regularly and often subconsciously. Our habits shape what we put attention on, what we do. What do you notice about your habits? What are the habits which are helping the team? Getting in the way of team results?

Our beliefs and philosophies also have tremendous influence on what we pay attention to, what we prioritize and how we approach our work. This is an area which warrants much greater exploration for teams and individuals. Our beliefs may be deeply entrenched. Our philosophies may not be made explicit. What is the work for you to explore in this area?

Our mindsets – Authors such as Carol Dweck have dedicated their work to exploring the field of mindsets. What mindset do you embrace around your work and elements of your work? Are you an active learner with years of experience under your belt, or are you an expert? Do you embrace experimentation or do things have to be perfect? If you haven’t explored the realm of mindset and the work of authors such as Dweck, this may be of interest to you.

Again, our mindset will influence the activities we undertake and what we do.

Our values – What we value and what we take a stand for also influences our values. What are the values you hold as a team? An organization? An individual? If I hold a value of experimentation, I may be willing to try a lot of things that don’t work. This would be in contrast to (and potential conflict with) a team that values quality and would never let something go out the door before it was vetted multiple times. Our values will have a significant influence on our behaviors and therefore results. They may influence speed etc.

I hope that you will take a few minutes to map out your iceberg. If you are interested in exploring this more, contact us to discuss working 1-1 via coaching, or by bringing this into a team day session.

All the best,
Jennifer

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TEAMS365 #2204 – 20 for 2020 – Day 12: Week in Review

1/12/2020

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Welcome back to a Sunday week in review. As we move through the 2nd weekend of January, what do you notice about your routines?

This week we covered a variety of posts including:

Saturday’s reflective journaling prompt of “___ makes me happy”. Read it here.
Friday’s Flashback to Teams365 1245 of Things New Remote Teams Need – a great checkpoint for teams of all types and “age”. Check it out here.
Thursday’s Team Building Tip – Start of Year Checkpoint. Read it here.
Wednesday’s post on Accelerating Your Teamwork This Year. Read it here.
Tuesday’s post on 10 Things You’ll Want to Schedule in Before It Gets Too Busy. Take a look at it here.
Monday’s Effective Virtual Conversations – Remote Team Tip. You can read it here.

A reminder to also head on over and listen into the first 4 podcast episodes of the Remote Pathways Podcast. In this podcast I co-host with Michelle Mullins, we explore the people, pathways and practices to exceptional remote work – including leadership, teamwork and entrepreneurship.

In the latest episode, released January 1st, we explore the pathways of Sales Professionals, Virtual Project Managers and the topic of vision. Listen in to the Remote Pathways podcast on any of your favorite podcast players.

All the best!
Jennifer

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TEAMS365 #2203 – 20 for 2020 – Day 11 – Weekly Journaling Prompt 83

1/11/2020

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Knowing what makes us happy can be important for quality of life and work. Many times, we can get so in the flow of life and busyness that we don’t stop to pause and think about what makes us happy. Before we get too far into the year, this weekend’s Weekly Journaling Prompt gets you to think about, and write about, what makes you happy.

What can you be doing to bring more of these happy moments and activities into your work and life? One way to do this might be by creating rituals. As Tony Schwartz and Jim Loehr write in the Power of Full Engagement, “Building rituals requires defining very precise behaviors and performing them at very specific times – motivated by deeply held values.”

Perhaps getting outside on the weekends makes you happy, or fitting in a podcast over lunchtime. What are the habits and rituals that are going to support you around this?

I hope that you will enjoy thinking about not only what makes you happy this weekend, but what you can also do to cultivate more of that through habits and rituals.

Enjoy!
Jennifer

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TEAMS365 #2196 – 20 Tips for 2020 – Day 4: Weekly Journaling Prompt 82

1/4/2020

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Welcome to the first Weekly Journaling Prompt of 2020. These are quick prompts geared to get you to stop, pause and take stock of what’s occurring in your world of work, and life. In my work as a coach, I regularly hear how valuable it is to be able to “pause” to reflect on what’s happening and what action is needed. When are you stopping to “pause” and take stock of where you are? Pauses may be 5- 15 minute only. It’s often more about the quality than the quantity!

This week’s prompt gets you to reflect and write on “I want to invest in…”. What are the things you want to invest in this year?

Our focus is finite as is the time we have. Where do you CHOOSE to invest your time and focus? Where do you want to invest? What’s the benefit? What can be the benefit for others?

I hope that you will enjoy these and a quick reminder for those that facilitate that the new Conversation Sparker Journaling cards are now available as well. These are a great tangible tool to bring into your workshops or retreats or coaching sessions. Do everything virtually? Inquire about a digital license.

Enjoy your weekly reflection time!

Have a great weekend,
Jennifer

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TEAMS365 #2194 – 20 for 2020 – Day 2 - Are your 2020 Goals SMART -E?

1/2/2020

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As we step into 2020, I wanted to give you an opportunity to focus in on your goals for the year. Many like to list out their goals in a variety of ways.

From creating a goal or vision board which sits in your office to creating a One Page Plan (hear me talk about this more in the recent Remote Pathways podcast and download a copy of your own), keeping your goals visible can be an important part of success.

At the same time goals can become de-motivational, especially if we create too many or if we create goals that are not achievable.

In my writing I like to talk about goals that are not only SMART, but SMART-E.

As a reminder these are:
S - Specific - What specifically do you want to achieve? What will it look like?
M - Measurable - How can you track progress?
A - Achievable - With some stretch are these achievable?
R - Realistic - Again, with stretch are these in range?
T - Timebound - What's the timeframe on this - next week, end of June, early 2021?
E - And most of all, are these goals Exciting? If they are not exciting, chances are they might got get done, or may get done only to get them checked off.

What are your top 3-5 SMART-E Goals for 2020? Take a few minutes to work on them and be sure to check out the recent Remote Pathways Podcast Episode 3 to check out the One Page Plan Worksheet. You can find it here.

Enjoy your reflection and be sure to share with us your goals over at the Conversation Sparker Zone! If you haven’t joined us there before, you can join the main Conversation Sparker Zone community here.

And the Remote Pathways Sparker Zone here. (note this group is more focused on remote work)

Best wishes,
Jennifer

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TEAMS365 #2193 – 20 Tips for 2020: Day 1 - Vision for a new year and New Decade

1/1/2020

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Welcome to 2020 – Setting Annual and Decade Long Vision, Intentions and Goals and a new calendar to follow!

Welcome to 2020! Today is an opportunity to turn over not only a new page of a new year, but a new chapter of a new decade.

For some, it’s incredible to have a blank canvas. For others, it may create some doubt and hesitancy. A lot of my work and writing is grounded in the notion of daily steps create their own momentum. As Lao Tsu once wrote – “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step”.

Today is a new day, new year and new decade. What’s the journey you want to take?

If this is the first time you’ve stumbled upon the Teams365 blog, welcome! If you’ve been with me since I started this experiment in daily blogging back on January 1st, 2014, welcome back for another year. I’m excited to see what themes and topics we explore this year.

Over the last six years of blogging daily, I’ve amassed quite a bit of content. Rather than having it get buried, this year there’s a new monthly calendar you can follow. I’ve curated some of my favorite posts from here at the Teams365 blog and you can follow them along! Click here to download the January 2020 Teams365 calendar.

Today’s post provides you with an opportunity to create not only an annual vision and set of intentions, and goals for what you want to create this year, but also for the upcoming year.

I hope that you may grab a new notebook or journal and join me for these prompts today. You may even want to grab a timer and set it for 2 minutes.

#1 – As you look out across 2020 – what is it that you want to create, or embrace this year?
#2 – What is your theme for 2020?
#3 – What’s important to build time and space to focus on this year?
#4 – What are the top 3-5 goals for the year?
#5 – By December 31 2020, I want to…..
#6 – By December 31, 2029, I hope that…..
#7 – The one habit I want to focus on this year is….
#8 – Across this new decade I want to bring in….
#9 – As I get started every day, I want to remind myself….
#10 – My hope for myself (and my loved ones or team) is…
#11 – What do you want to do on a consistent basis?
#12 – What do you want to make sure you fit into the margins of your life this year? This decade?

Enjoy the reflection!

For more on setting a vision for yourself please check out this video I recorded a few weeks ago. If you have a vision already created, what are you going to do to review it on a regular basis, and use it as a touchstone?

All the best,
Jennifer

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TEAMS365 #2192 – Saying goodbye to an amazing decade and saying hello to a new one!

12/31/2019

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As I go to write this post it’s a bit bittersweet. I’m sure many of you are feeling the same. The 2010s were a great time – personally and professionally.

I’m excited to step into a new decade and leave a few things behind, as well as carry forward many of the lessons learned of the last decade. While my memories of moving from 2009 to 2010 aren’t as clear, I vividly remember the eve of Y2K. Twenty years ago, as a much younger professional I was based in South America. My original four months in a country had turned into almost seven years at that point. I remember wondering what the new decade would bring. As it turned out amazing things – 3 years as a Manager with the UN, and then transitioning into establishing Potentials Realized in 2004.

What are you hopeful for?

As we step into 2020 as a business, we’ll be continuing our focus on providing teams and leaders with exceptional learning experiences grounded in coaching, mentoring and conversations. Our focus on remote work will also continue to expand with:

The Annual Remote Pathways Lab meeting on Fridays during the 2nd and 4th week of the month.
Team Days being custom designed for remote teams – focusing on strengths-based work, team effectiveness, clarifying result and boosting connections.
In-person team days focusing on strengths-based work and team effectiveness.
Our Teams365 series of programming – delivered as virtual modules.
On-demand learning – short, video-based primer courses – Feedback and Team Effectiveness available.
Support to coaches throught the 60 Day Coaching Business Builder Accelerator which starts on January 1st 2020. Coaches - hope you'll join us!

Thank you for visiting and spending time here at the blog. Stay tuned for some exciting changes for 2020 writing.

Wishing you an amazing start to the new decade!
Jennifer

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Teams365 Blog

TEAMS365 #2211 – 20 for 2020 – Day 19: Week in Review

TEAMS365 #2210 – 20 for 2020 – Day 18: Weekly Journaling Prompt 84

TEAMS365 #2209 – 20 for 2020 Day 17: Focusing in on Strengths

TEAMS365 #2206 – 20 for 2020 – Day 14: What’s below the waterline of your work?

TEAMS365 #2204 – 20 for 2020 – Day 12: Week in Review

TEAMS365 #2203 – 20 for 2020 – Day 11 – Weekly Journaling Prompt 83

TEAMS365 #2196 – 20 Tips for 2020 – Day 4: Weekly Journaling Prompt 82

TEAMS365 #2194 – 20 for 2020 – Day 2 - Are your 2020 Goals SMART -E?

TEAMS365 #2193 – 20 Tips for 2020: Day 1 - Vision for a new year and New Decade

TEAMS365 #2192 – Saying goodbye to an amazing decade and saying hello to a new one!

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Author

PicK up a copy of PlanDoTrack - For Virtual and Remote Professionals

Become a PlanDoTrack Facilitator:​STarts DEcember 3 2019:

Avoid the "Death by Conference CAll" - EVC Book:

Upcoming Programs

Archives

Categories

Become a PlanDoTrack Facilitator:
STarts DEcember 3 2019: