Teams365 Blog - Potentials Realized

#TEAMS365 #2007: Mid-Year Checkpoint

6/29/2019

As we step into the middle of the year, it can be a great time to create a pause to undertake a quick mid-year checkpoint. Most Saturdays I share a Weekly Journaling Prompt, but this week you might want to explore these mid-year questions:

My theme this year is….
What have your successes been ?
Where has your focus been?
Who have you been working with?
What’ s been happening?
What have you taken a stand for?
What have you become known for?
What have been the major milestones?
What goals have you achieved?
What’s your focus for the rest of the year?

I shared these questions mid-month with the professionals who attend the Learning Lab and Design Studio, and they loved the reflection space.

Enjoy your time reflecting as well!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2019) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development.

#TEAMS365 #2003: Key Trends – Navigating Disruption

6/25/2019

Disruption is part of the landscape of many industries and workplaces today. Whether things are changing dramatically due to technology or geopolitical impacts, change is pervasive for many.

While we can’t change the pace of change, we can adjust our approaches to it.

What do we do to continue to be effective and positive in times of change?

Three practical things we can do are:

Cultivate curiosity – While many leaders would assert “easier said than done”, cultivating curiosity is important for today’s business landscape. Cultivating curiosity can be an important skill to develop in team members AND embed in the culture of an organization.

For more on cultivating curiosity, check out this earlier Teams365 blog post I wrote on Cultivating Curiosity Teams365 #1955 and what the research says Teams365 1961 – Encouraging Curiosity.

Be clear on the big picture goals – Adopting a 30,000 foot view on work, life and context can also be a valuable strategy for buffeting against the shocks of change. While the meta-view (big picture view) is not one that everyone adopts easily, seeing the big picture helps with the micro-shocks we can feel on a regular basis when things change. This is why it’s really important to continue communicating and meeting during times of change. Helping share the big picture so people don’t find themselves in the “Weeds”, cut off from what’s happening in the bigger picture is critical.

Become comfortable with knowing when things are “good enough” to let go, and that learning may always be needed. The embracement of “growth mindset” on the part of organizations in support of their staff, it encouraging. When we come from what Carol Dweck has coined “growth mindset” it gives permission for experimentation, learning, and not quite being ready “yet”.

Disruption may mean that reverse mentoring (junior to more senior professionals) is just as important as traditional mentoring (senior to more junior professionals). It also provides us with an opportunity to pause and see how we are adjusting to change. Are we as “good at change” as we thought we were?

A reminder that last month I focused on Teamwork in Uncertainty (link to tag of Teamwork in Uncertainty).

Teams365 #1955- Teamwork in Uncertainty: Cultivating Curiosity. View it here.

Teams365 #1954 – Managing Uncertainty – Building Trust and Connection on Your Team Virtually. All workplaces can benefit from this topic – it is one of the #1 questions we receive here at Potentials Realized. Check out the post here.

Teams365 #1962: Teamwork in Uncertainty: Empowering your Team with the Space to Experiment. Link to: (not a live link yet)

Teams365 #1968: Teamwork in Uncertainty: Pivot

Teams365 #1969: Teamwork in Uncertainty: Comfort with the Unknown: link here

Enjoy the conversation,
Jennifer

You may also want to check out the following blog posts as well:

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2019) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development.
Pick up a copy of Volume 1 of the Weekly Journaling Prompts in a digital format. Print it out and take it with you for some inspiration and writing on the go! Available at the Potentials Realized Store.

#TEAMS365 #2001: Weekly Journaling Prompt #55

6/23/2019

From audio devices in our kitchens and cars, to streaming video replacing many TV programs, this week’s journaling prompt gets you to think about what your favorite book, show and /or song is right now. Why you ask?

When did you last stop and pause and think about what you are consuming? Books, podcasts, screen time?

It can be interesting for us to take a deeper look at what we are exploring in our reading and listening.

Enjoy the writing and if you haven’t had a chance to capture your summer goals yet, now might be a great time.

If you want some inspiration, check out the Quarterly Planning Prompt video I recorded a few months ago. You can apply the questions to any quarter. Grab a pen and view the Quarterly Planning Prompt video here. It runs for 30 minutes. If you want a shorter video – check out this 2.5 minute one I did last year.

Enjoy!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2019) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development.
Pick up a copy of Volume 1 of the Weekly Journaling Prompts in a digital format. Print it out and take it with you for some inspiration and writing on the go! Available at the Potentials Realized Store.

#TEAMS365 #1998: Team Building Tip 241

6/20/2019

In recent years, more and more organizations have become more aware of the importance of growth mindset. Coined by Carol Dweck, growth mindset invites all of us into an ongoing learning insight. To learn more about Caro Dweck’s Work – visit her TED Talk - If you haven't heard Dweck talk about her work on mindset, here is a video.

Part of growth mindset, and at the heart of continuous learning is the notion that we may not yet have mastered things YET. As I assert in my writing, growth is about ongoing action, reflection, feedback and iteration. In fact, the tagline for my two recent planners, PlanDoTrack and the Coaching Business Builder, is Consistent Action + Daily Steps = Momentum.

It is through these daily steps and ongoing action that we see what works, and what doesn’t. It means that we are always learning and adjusting as we go.
As a team this week, I hope that you will engage in the discussion of “What haven’t WE mastered yet?”.

What are we still learning from, and learning about?

Enjoy the conversation!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2019) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development.
Pick up a copy of Volume 1 of the Weekly Journaling Prompts in a digital format. Print it out and take it with you for some inspiration and writing on the go! Available at the Potentials Realized Store.

#TEAMS365 #1994: Sunday Round-up

6/16/2019

This Sunday I wanted us to take a look back at the week and what the blog posts were. Let’s take a look back at each one of this week’s posts:

Monday June 10 – 1987: Effective Virtual Conversations Tip #98: In Focus: MOOCs
Tuesday June 11 – 1988: Mid-Year - Feedback and Performance Check
Wednesday June 12 – 1989: Mentoring
Thursday June 13 – 1990: Team Building Tip 240
Friday June 14 – 1991: A Look at Listening and Questioning
Saturday June 15 – 1992: Weekly Journaling Prompt 53

What’s important to take a look at more in-depth?

Warm regards,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2019) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development.
Pick up a copy of Volume 1 of the Weekly Journaling Prompts in a digital format. Print it out and take it with you for some inspiration and writing on the go! Available at the Potentials Realized Store.

#TEAMS365 #1993: Weekly Journaling Prompt 54

6/15/2019

As we arc into another Weekly Journaling Prompt, this week’s question gets you to consider the question “My favorite experience this year has been…..”.

Taking time to stop and pause along the way can be invaluable.

What are the key highlights of your year so far?
What would you put in your top 10 list?
What have you crossed off your bucket list?
What still remains?
What are the things you have learned from?

Draw out a roadmap of the key journeys and highlights you have had from the year.

Enjoy the reflection!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2019) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development.
Pick up a copy of Volume 1 of the Weekly Journaling Prompts in a digital format. Print it out and take it with you for some inspiration and writing on the go! Available at the Potentials Realized Store.

#TEAMS365 #1989 – Mentoring

6/12/2019

At all stages of our careers, mentoring can be an invaluable approach. Learning from the wisdom and experience of others is priceless.

Mentors play a key role including:

Providing an alternative view of our industry/role/profession from what others might see, based on their own experience.
Acting as a sounding board as we work through different ideas.
Helping us understand and navigate the undercurrents of an organization and/or industry.

Formal mentors are usually different than our own bosses, which provides the advantage of an unbiased confidant.

What are the mentoring opportunities available to you?

When considering a mentor ask yourself:

What is the role I want the mentor to play?
What type of support am I looking for? (Sounding board, understanding undercurrents)
What are my goals for the mentoring experience?
What role(s) do I want the mentor to play?

Many formal mentoring programs will have application processes and sharing your responses around these areas can help not only with pairing you with a good fit, but also getting the most out of the limited time you have together.

Wishing you the best,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2019) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development.
Pick up a copy of Volume 1 of the Weekly Journaling Prompts in a digital format. Print it out and take it with you for some inspiration and writing on the go! Available at the Potentials Realized Store.

#TEAMS365 #1988 – Effective Virtual Conversations tIP #98: Virtual Conversation In Focus: MOOC

6/10/2019

Welcome back to another Effective Virtual Conversations tip. This week we are zooming into one specific type of virtual conversation: the MOOC – Massive Open Online Course. The term was originally pioneered in the formal education sector, with platforms like Coursera and EdX bringing us university level courses for the masses. Personally, I’ve extended my own learning (which consists of a Master’s degree, a Post Graduate Certificate, multiple professional certifications) with great courses through both the Coursera and EdX platforms. I’ve taken courses on The Science of Happiness, Emotional Intelligence and Coaching with Compassion. All three courses have found their way into my own program design and consulting and coaching work with teams and organizations.

The benefit of these courses is that it gives you access, usually at a budget friendly price, to current academic thinking and research. For those of us who are practitioners, the value is in ensuring that we are grounding our approaches in the latest. At the same time, we don’t have to sign up for a full-course load and can take programming that truly is of greatest service to us.
Another benefit of these types of courses is that they are usually on-demand, which means that you can take them at your own pace. Formal assignments ensure that you remain on course and time.

This week think about how new and on-demand learning could support you in your continued growth and effectiveness as a professional.

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2019) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development.
Pick up a copy of Volume 1 of the Weekly Journaling Prompts in a digital format. Print it out and take it with you for some inspiration and writing on the go! Available at the Potentials Realized Store.

#TEAMS365 #1987: PlanDoTrack In Focus: Listening Skills for Remote Team Members and Leaders

6/9/2019

It’s Sunday and time to borrow from the PlanDoTrack blog. Earlier this week I shared this week’s Effective Virtual Conversations tip around honing listening. I recently shared this blog post over at the PlanDoTrack site.

Here’s what I wrote about listening for Virtual and Remote Teams:

Last week I focused on the first of three coaching skills which can be important to equip all virtual and remote team members with. While these are often considered “coaching skills for leaders” in the virtual and remote environment, building this capacity in our virtual team can enhance productivity, peer support and results.

Last week I explored GOALS. This week let us look at listening.

Communication occurs in many channels in the virtual space – from conversations by phone, to texts, to email and IM (Instant Messaging).

Each one has its advantages and disadvantages.

Research shows that a significant portion of our understanding comes from tone, which is lost when we lean into digital channels of communication – text, email and IM. This can lead to a lot of misunderstandings, misinterpretations and lack of clarity.

Our listening can be heavily influenced by a number of factors:

Distractions (what we have on our plate, not reading things fully)
Our relationship with the sender (what do we know about their context, their intent, their focus and priorities)
Our understanding of the topic
Thinking about what we want to say, rather than listening for what is really being said

When we are able to meet for voice conversations, we may hear the tone, if we are listening for it. Adding on visual cues – like streaming for a meeting instead of just using the phone – can add additional layers on to the conversation. Being able to share our screen and work together real-time can also help us understand the full context.

What are the things that are helping and hindering your virtual conversations?
Are distractions getting in the way? How are you using all the tools you have available? What are you doing to increase your understanding of other’s context and priorities?

There are many more tools and ideas available for virtual teams in these various resources from me:

Part 3 of my 2017 book, Effective Virtual Conversations, focuses on virtual team development, meetings and communication.
Check out the posts related to Coaching Skills and Virtual and Remote Teams over at the Teams365 blog.

Let me know how I can support your virtual team development. From virtual retreat facilitation, to offering virtual team coaching services, we specialize in virtual team support.

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2019) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development.
Pick up a copy of Volume 1 of the Weekly Journaling Prompts in a digital format. Print it out and take it with you for some inspiration and writing on the go! Available at the Potentials Realized Store.

#TEAMS365 #1986 - Weekly Journaling Prompt #53

6/8/2019

It’s hard to believe but this weekly Saturday series on Weekly Journaling prompts started a year ago. This week invites you to take a moment to pause and take stock of what you notice about your journaling. Whether you have been following the Teams365 Weekly Jounraling Prompts since June of 2018, or this is the first one, take a few minutes today to review any journaling or writing you’ve done.. It’s not often that we stop for a few minutes to pause and see how things are going.

As you flip through what you have created, notice:

What are the highlights?
What key themes are included in your journal?
What are the patterns you notice?
What key accomplishments stand out?
What hasn’t been captured in your journaling?
What surprises you?
What do you want to make sure you lock in to your memory?

I hope that you’ve enjoyed the first year of these posts. A quick reminder that you can pick up a self-guided journaling printable notebook at the Potentials Realized store. I’ve pulled together the first 12 weeks of the WJP into one downloadable booklet for $7. Click on over to the Potentials Realized store and pick up a copy. Volume 2 of Weeks 13 – 24 will be released soon and will also be available at the Potentials Realized store.

Have a great Saturday!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), PlanDoTrack (2019) and From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (2013)
Follow along with the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series over at Instagram @CoachingBizBuilder
Join the conversation at the Conversation Sparker Zone - our online community where you can explore virtual and team issues, coaching, productivity and business development.
Pick up a copy of Volume 1 of the Weekly Journaling Prompts in a digital format. Print it out and take it with you for some inspiration and writing on the go! Available at the Potentials Realized Store.