Teams365 Blog - POTENTIALS REALIZED

#TEAMS365 #1934 – Team Springboard: 20 Things that Help Teams

4/17/2019

This month’s focus is on Team Springboards, things that help teams. Let’s take a look at a laundry list of things that help teams excel. Individually they are quite straightforward, collectively they are powerful. As you review this list you might consider giving yourself a rating on a 1-10, with 1 being low and 10 being high.

Clarity around goals
Strong team culture
Knowledge of each other
Connection with other team members
Understanding what people do on the team
Knowing who to go to for _____________ (insert issue)
Clarity around roles on the team
Clarity about how to surface issues
Confidence that issues raised will be heard
Confidence that issues raised will be addressed/considered/responded to
Clarity around how performance is measured
Resources needed to do the work
Mechanisms to flag resources needed
Feedback channels
Acknowledgement for work well done
A clear vision of what the team is aiming for in terms of this year’s/quarter’s goals
Effective Team Meetings on a regular basis
Clear channels for communication
Opportunities for development
Opportunities to have fun and connect with others

What else?

Enjoy the conversation!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2018) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Now available – PlanDoTrack Workbook and Planner - Order a copy today on Amazon
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development).
Check out the new 19 Tips for Productivity On-Demand Course. If this is your year to get things moving, check it out now. Join Jenn for bi-weekly live group calls until July. $129 US. Learn more and enroll here.

#TEAMS365 #1929 – FlashBack Friday – Trust and Connection

4/12/2019

This week at the blog we’ve been exploring the topics of trust and connection. As part of this week’s Flashback Friday, let’s reach back to Teams365 #610 where I explored Four Ways to Boost Trust. Here’s what I wrote:

As we explored earlier this week, trust is a key issue for teams today. Today’s blog post looks at four ways to build trust in your team:

1. Connection - We feel supported when we feel valued, known and heard. Connection is a critical factor for high performing teams. Teams who feel connected with each other have often invested time in getting to know one another, and schedule time for regular connections. Perhaps a 2 pm daily meeting is the norm, or a Monday morning huddle kicks off your week. Consider what will boost connection amongst your team members.

2. Clarity - Clarity is key in creating trust. When we know what is expected of us, it is easier to follow-through and know how we are doing. Creating shared, and clear expectations of each other is important, as is having clarity around roles.

3. Communication - Communication is the foundation of connection and clarity. Consider how the team wants to communicate with each other, and what in fact is most effective.

4. Knowledge/Competence - Many trust models talk about the importance of skills and knowledge, or what they call competence, in building trust. If we know that others have the skills and knowledge to have our backs, we can rest easier that things will get done.

What else do you see as other factors building trust?

As you think about your work and team practices right now, what are you doing to boost:

Connection
Clarity
Communication
Knowledge and Competence

Let us know and share your comments below!

Enjoy your weekend,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2018) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Now available – PlanDoTrack Workbook and Planner - Order a copy today on Amazon
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development).
Check out the new 19 Tips for Productivity On-Demand Course. If this is your year to get things moving, check it out now. Join Jenn for bi-weekly live group calls until July. $129 US. Learn more and enroll here.

#TEAMS365 #1927 - Creating a Strong Team Identity

4/10/2019

Team identity and culture is something that we all shape. Team identity is critical in the context of virtual and remote teams. It helps us understand who we are and how we do things. A strong team identity helps me know that as a member of this team, I am expected to:

Raise issues quickly
Rather than complain, seek for solutions
Support others and provide information to others on a regular basis about the work I am undertaking, opportunities I see for collaboration

Ways we can start to form a strong team identity include:

Having the team identity key values. For example, innovation or respect.
For each one of these values, have the team identify the behaviors which illustrate that value. For example, for respect – Consider impact before speaking; take ownership of mistakes; reply to requests in a timely manner (and as a team identify what timely means); when raising issues also offer possible solutions.
Having the team own “How we do things here. What’s acceptable and what’s not”. In owning it, we call out behaviors which are not aligned with our agreements.
Identifying logos, icons or metaphors of what the team is. For example, a team that is about creating a WOW experience might embrace “The Orange Bird” as their mascot.
Creating a drawing or tableaux of what the team is aspiring to. Several years ago, vision boards were very popular. Teams too can have their own team vision board which they can situate in an area of high traffic. If its’ a virtual team, take a photo and include in it any sides you are sharing with your virtual meetings. Review it regularly.

Bad behavior doesn’t just happen. It’s permitted. What are you doing to call it out?

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2018) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Now available – PlanDoTrack Workbook and Planner - Order a copy today on Amazon
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development).
Check out the new 19 Tips for Productivity On-Demand Course. If this is your year to get things moving, check it out now. Join Jenn for bi-weekly live group calls until July. $129 US. Learn more and enroll here.

#TEAMS365 # 1885 – Virtual Team Practices

2/27/2019

Today’s post is around Virtual Team Tools. In January I hosted a call for the Effective Virtual Conversations book on 5 Virtual Team Builders. What are the things you are doing to build your virtual team? What are the things you want to focus on as a team? Be sure to take some time focusing on virtual team development.

As I wrote in yesterday’s post – Teams365 #1884 -having an intentional focus on virtual team development can be important for virtual and remote teams who are less apt to have a focus on team development.

Some examples of virtual team practices are:

Weekly coffee breaks which the entire team attend. You could incorporate one of the weekly Thursday Team Building Tip Questions I share to spark dialogue across the team. View them here.
Virtual Co-working times – for example, quarterly I host a Virtual Get Things Done afternoon. People are invited to bring their list of things to do and join us for a 4-hour co-working block. We meet at the top of every hour to check in. Benefiting from peer accountability and a focused support, hourly check ins also serve to keep the focus and push people through work which might not be as focused.
Structured team meetings to build connection and focus on work.

What other types of virtual team practices will support the team in maintaining and building relationships, keeping the team moving, and getting things done?

Best,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Author of Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack Workbook and Planner for Virtual and Remote Team Leaders (2019)
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Connect on Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Follow us on Twitter @Teams365
Phone: (416)996-8326

#TEAMS365 #1883: Effective Virtual Conversation Space #83

2/25/2019

This week’s Effective Virtual Conversation tip gets you thinking about the statement “Virtual teams need attention too”. It is often thought that “out of sight = out of mind”. Virtual teams receive a lot less attention and focus than intact, face to face teams. A 2016 study by Culture Wizard (insert link) found that approximately 22-23% of virtual and remote teams surveyed actually benefited from virtual team support.

Virtual teams need just as much attention, and perhaps even more focused space for dialogue and greating shared agreements and norms. Discussion around “how we do things” ensures consistency across a team, and a focus on what’s important.

What are the conversations important for the team to have? What things need to be clarified or agreed upon?

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats.
Follow us on Twitter @Teams365
Phone: (416)996-8326

#TEAMS365 #1733 - Weekly Journaling prompt #17

9/29/2018

This week’s weekly journaling prompt is “The relationships which are important are…."

“Relationships are the currency of business” They are the vehicle through which we get things done. It can be valuable to consider :

Which relationships have you developed in the last 3-6 months?
What relationships would help you get the results you need?
What relationships need attention?
Who is missing in your network?
Who have you not connected with in a while, and might benefit from being in connection with?

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Effective Virtual Conversations | Coaching Team Leaders
We provide team and leadership development support through coaching, consulting and training services
Author of several books including the 2018 Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner & Effective Virtual Conversations (2017)
Email: [email protected]
(416)996-8326

#Teams365 #1538: Teams365 Video:

3/18/2018

This week's Teams365 Video explores the Forming Stage of any team and group development process. Whether I am working with groups or teams virtually or in person, I continue to see how Bruce Tuckman's model of Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing and Adjourning plays out in teams which exist for special projects or groups that are together for extended periods.

In today's Teams365 Sunday video we explore the first stage of Tuckman's model - the FORMING Stage. In this first stage of group or team development, members are looking to connect with others, learn more about what lies ahead, and are eager to start developing trust. Without trust and connection, it's unlikely that a group or team will move beyond the next stage of group development which is commonly referred to as the storming stage.

Throughout this month here at the Teams365 blog, we are exploring different ways that teams and leaders can expand their connection. Do take a look at the different posts I have shared, and stay tuned for more in the last half of this month.

Leave a comment. What are you doing to build trust and connection, or support your team/group through the forming stage.

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton - Host of the Teams365 Blog
Potentials Realized - Leadership and Teamwork Issues
Group Coaching Essentials.com our site dedicated to Coaching Skills Training for Leaders and Team and Coaching Skills Training for Coaches (ICF CCE approved)
Author of Effective Virtual Conversations - Available at Amazon
Contact us to discuss how we can support your team, leaders, or coaches in having better conversations for different results

#Teams365 #1081: Team Development Activity: L is for Lifecycle

12/16/2016

Today we are at L in our a-z of team development activities. L stands for lifecycle and as teamworkers it is important to recognize and support teams where they are at. Decades ago, Bruce Tuckman evolved a five stage proess of team development (originally 4 stages) starting with Forming when teams come together, moving to Storming as they start to figure out who they are collectively, and moving into norming as they figure our their roles and how they want to operate. Eventually teams get to "perform" where they get their movement, and sometimes teams will adjourn when they disband.

Listen in as I share a short 5 minute video walking you through the different stages of team development, including some quick ideas of things you can do with teams at each stage. For more on this, please refer to chapter 8 of my book, From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching.

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
(416)996-TEAM (8326)

#Teams365 #266: Article: Team Building Tips

9/23/2014

Today's post is a link to an article I wrote several years ago on Team Building Tips: Take Your Team from Great to Extraordinary. In it I cover 10 tips and focus areas team leaders can have dialogue with their team around.

Click here to read the article online. You can also download a copy of it here.

As you read through these ten ideas, which ones have you completed already? Which ones do you need to put some attention around?

Team development is one of the tasks many new team leaders feel uncomfortable with. Armed with questions and a few facilitation techniques, new team leaders can confidently open up the dialogue with their team.

We have three upcoming opportunities for you to develop some strength and skills in this area:
1. The Teams365 Stepping Into Your Leadership Capacity module which explores your strengths and style as a leader. It's also the first of the Teams365 series of virtual learning modules, geared to equip you with new skills, tools and insights. Our next public session will start on Friday October 3rd at 12 noon ET, running for 6 weeks. Calls are one hour each. Learn more about the program here.

2. The Facilitation Skills Intensive which will be delivered online on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 -8 pm Eastern/New York for 10 weeks starting on October 8 and running to December 10th. This is a virtual train-the-trainer program and will be of interest for those who may need to facilitate group and learning interventions virtually. You also benefit from not having to travel to participate.

3. The Group and Team Coaching Intensive - Geared for those leaders who may be playing more of a coaching role within their organization, I will be holding a two day in person training program in Toronto, CANADA on Group and Team Coaching. This program will run November 1-2, and is approved by the International Coach Federation for 15 hours of CCEs. Click here for more information. Early bird rate ends September 30th and spaces are limited.

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized - Leadership | Teamwork | Coaching Skills Training for Leaders
Supporting Team Leaders One Conversation at a Time(TM)
Contact us to learn more about our team retreat services or the Everything DiSC
(416)996-8326

#Teams 365 #189: Four Ways to Build Connection in the Team

7/8/2014

Four Ways to Create Connection within your team:

Trust is a foundation for successful teams. In order to trust each other, people need to know each other within a team. Today's blog post includes four quick activities you can use to create connection within your team. You may want to bring one of these into an upcoming team meeting, or use at an annual retreat session.

1. On a rotational basis have each team member provide a short (and informal) presentation about their work/role, priorities and what connections they see between their work and others on the team. This might only take 10-15 minutes of the meeting, and can be invaluable in helping each team member get to know each other, as well as understand the myriad of priorities which exist on the team.

2. Use a visual deck and have each team member select a photo of what their vision is for either their work or the team. Use the same question for each team member. Enabling people to choose from photos often makes the sharing feel less risky than leaving the question hanging wide open. CoachingToys.com has a variety of decks to choose from. I've also spotlighted the Conversation Sparker Deck we have created which includes both photos and questions team leaders can select from.

3. Ask each team member to share one thing about their past experience that they are really proud of. We know that allowing people to lead from strengths boosts productivity and also positivity within a team. Another way to phrase this question is "What is one strength you bring to the team?" See past Teams365 posts on strengths here.

4. Have people create a logo which represents what they uniquely bring to the team. I call this the personal logo activity and expand on it in my book Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010).

This month bring consider bringing in one of these activities to your regular meetings. What's the impact for team members - in the short term? Longer-term?

Have a great week,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized
Authorized Partner of the Everything DiSC and Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team
Leadership | Teamwork | Retreats | Coaching Skills Training
(416)996-8326
Starting Soon - Teams365 Coaching Groups - new groups starting in August and September