Teams365 Blog - POTENTIALS REALIZED

#TEams365 #1607: Weekend Quote on Trust and Teamwork

5/26/2018

Today's quote comes from Patrick Lencioni who wrote:
“Trust is knowing that when a team member does push you, they’re doing it because they care about the team.” – Patrick Lencioni

The skills of working across differences, constructive interaction, and being able to constructively talk through difficult issues. Teams that have high levels of trust are not afraid to be hard with each other in service to the team and their results. Expectations are usually high and team members will have enough trust to know that people will take the push accordingly.

Where is your level of trust on your team right now? What issues need to be addressed so you as a team can work most positively?

Enjoy your weekend,
Jennifer

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

You can grab a copy of my new book, Effective Virtual Conversations, at Amazon. You can also purchase a copy direct from our site, signed by me!

Looking to schedule some team development this fall? Contact me to discuss whether the Everything DiSC or the Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team may be a great starting point.

#Teams365 #1572: Phrases to avoid - Weekend Quote

4/21/2018

This weekend’s quote comes from Gretchen Rubin who wrote : "Never start a sentence with 'No Offense'.", in her book, The Happiness Project.

Just like the word, “BUT” it negates everything said in front of it, and is a super-quick way to crack any foundation of trust in teams and in conversation.

In my work as a team coach, supporting team members to be aware of not only what they are saying, but how it is perceived, is a large part of the discussion we have around feedback. While we can hear lots of great things about how to give and receive feedback, we need to get into the practice of it. I’m amazed that one of the most important things people remember or think they’ll use in the presentations I give on feedback is “Phrases to use and avoid”.

What are the common phrases and ways team members give feedback to each other? How well received is it?

As you think about your list of phrases to avoid, watch these words:

No offense
BUT
You always

Enjoy your weekend,
Jennifer

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

Looking to enhance your virtual conversations - Conference calls? Webinars? Virtual coaching work? Pick up a copy of my new book, Effective Virtual Conversations, at Amazon.

#Teams365 #1565: Checking egos and discussion - a quote for teams

4/14/2018

One of the topics we will be exploring this coming week here at the blog is the diversity of teams and the topics of styles. Supporting teams around the area of styles, strengths and understanding how they can best work together is one of the main challenges of teamwork today. Collaboration, flexibility and change are constants, requiring that all team members adapt, and learn to be fluid.

Today's quote comes from Edward De Bono who wrote "A discussion should be a genuine attempt to explore a subject than a battle between competing egos".

Sometimes, in helping teams learn to work across differences, we come up against entrenched styles of behavior. One of these mindsets which has no place in today's workforce is "my way is the best way" or "my way is the right way". Collaborative problem solving is more often the norm than the exception, and helping team members learn to work together is critical.

I like De Bono's reminder that "A discussion should be a genuine attempt to explore a topic rather than a battle between competing egos".

When the team needs to be in dialogue and problem solve together, have egos been left at the desk? Are people ready to put THEIR OWN IDEAS aside in service to collaboration? Helping team members differentiate when it's best to collaborate and when it's best to run on their own is a key capacity for team members today.Enjoy your weekend - and your discussions!

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, CPT, PCC
Potentials Realized
Author of From One to Many: Best Practices for Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013) and Effective Group Coaching (Wiley, 2010)
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team Authorized Partner
Everything DiSC® Authorized Partner
Contact us and let us know how we can support you in helping your team reach its' full potential: (416)996-TEAM (8326)

#TEams365 #1544: Saturday Quote: Team work

3/24/2018

Today's teamwork quote comes from Ted Sundquist who wrote "Good teams incorporate teamwork into their culture, creating the building blogs for success".

Teamwork skills are often overlooked. They encompass skills like conflict resolution, communication, influence, relationship building, emotional intelligence.

Take a look around at many of the past posts, and series, I have done on teamwork skills.

What do you see as the strongest teamwork skills for your team right now? Which ones need further attention or development?
If you do not put attention on these areas, which might happen?

Enjoy your weekend,
Jennifer

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

#tEAMS365 #1439: Saturday Quote

12/9/2017

As we are nearing the end of 2017, it's time for many of us to take stock of what we love and where we are spending our time. I thought it fitting to have this week's Saturday quote come from Richard Branson who wrote:

“There is no greater thing you can do with your life and your work than follow your passions – in a way that serves the world and you.” - Richard Branson

In my work as a coach I am very fortunate to support professionals delving into this topic every day. I also get to work with many world-changers who are finding ways to merge their passions with a social cause.

What's important for you to be making your footprint around in 2018?
What would you like to do to focus more on your passions?
When did you last stop to pause to think about your passions?

Enjoy this weekend's questions and if you are looking for a micro-pause this month to take time to do some stock-taking and planning, perhaps you will join me for my next Virtual Business Planning REtreat - Monday December 18th from 10- 4 pm ET. Whether you run a business, or are planning to start a side gig, we'll be spending the day creating a focus on what our vision is for the coming year, our unique capabilities and what we want to create for 2018. I hope you'll join me online that day for this program.

With 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

Looking to enhance your virtual conversations - Conference calls? Webinars? Virtual coaching work? Pick up a copy of my new book, Effective Virtual Conversations, at Amazon.

#TEams365 #1397: Silence and Teamwork Quote

10/28/2017

This weekend's Teamwork Quote comes from Mark Sandborn who wrote: In teamwork, silence isn't golden, it's deadly".

A key skill for teams today is having difficult conversations, or courageous conversations. It's about contstructively challenging each other. When silence occurs teams may not be surfacing the issues that need to be discussed in order to move forward.

Earlier this week as part of the 20 Virtual and Remote ACtivities series I shared a couple of ways to surface difficult conversations and conflict in virtual teams. Helping teams become comfortable with addressing and raising issues is essential. This requires a level of trust and safety, and leaders have a responsibility to ensure this.

What do you note about the role of silence in your team right now?

With 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

Looking to enhance your virtual conversations - Conference calls? Webinars? Virtual coaching work? Pick up a copy of my new book, Effective Virtual Conversations, at Amazon. You can also purchase a copy direct from our site, signed by me! Chapter 7 goes into many more activities for you to undertake with virtual and remote teams.

#TEams365 #1370: Weekend Quote

10/1/2017

One of the most pressing challenges for teams, businesses and communities today is that of trust. Today's quote comes from Brian Tracy who wrote "The glue that holds all relationships together including the relationship between lead and the led - is trust, and trust is based on integrity".

What is the state of trust in your team right now? How is trust helping or hindering your work? What conversations aren't being had due to low trust? What activities are building trust? Negating trust?

Several authors have done a fantastic job on helping all of us understand this content more including:
Steven Covey - The Speed of Trust
Reina and Reina - Trust and Betrayal in Today's Workplace

Be sure to check out our other Teams365 posts here on trust, including Teams365 #769: Four Ways to Build Trust in Your Team. Read it here.

Have a great weekend,
Jennifer

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

You can grab a copy of my new book, Effective Virtual Conversations, at Amazon. You can also purchase a copy direct from our site, signed by me!

#Teams365 #1355: Weekend Leadership and TEamwork Quote

9/16/2017

This weekend's quote comes from Joe Paterno who wrote "When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality" .

The shift from individual contributor collective to a collaborative team is a shift. What is helping you with this shift? What is getting in the way? What is possible with your team effort?

This past week we've been looking at the realm of virtual facilitation. If you lead a virtual team, what is possible for team performance on your team? What will it take to shift from a collection of individuals into a team?

Have a great weekend,
Jennifer

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

You can grab a copy of my new book, Effective Virtual Conversations, at Amazon. You can also purchase a copy direct from our site, signed by me!

Looking to schedule some team development this fall? Contact me to discuss whether the Everything DiSC or the Five Behaviors of a Cohesive Team may be a great starting point.

#Teams365 #1341: WeekenD Quote

9/2/2017

This weekend's quote comes from an Osange saying which is " If you want a place in the sun, then you must leave the shade of the family tree".

Taking the road less traveled is not always an easy one.

Where are you taking the road less traveled?
Where are you leaving the shade of the family tree?
What's important about you leaving your mark?

Enjoy your long weekend,
Jennifer

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

You can grab a copy of my new book, Effective Virtual Conversations, at Amazon. You can also purchase a copy direct from our site, signed by me!

#Teams365 #1334: Weekend Quote - intentionality

8/26/2017

Today's weekend quote comes from Benjamin Franklin who wrote "Drive thy business or it will drive thee.".

Earlier this week I was speaking in Washington to a large group of professional coaches at this year's International Coach Federation conference. In my presentation about Virtual Team and Group Coaching, I touched on the importance of planning and preparation. Going hand in hand with this is intentionality. Taking time to think about what you want to create and what you want to commit to. As business owners, and leaders, it can be important to be intentional and focused on how we want to move forward with our work. It is far to easy for the work to take over and create it's own wheel!

Take a few minutes this weekend to consider:
1. How are you driving your business/work or is it driving you?
2. What is it that you want to create in your work/business?
3. What boundaries are needed to allow you to work at your best?
4. What are you creating?
5. What else is important to consider around intentionality?

Have a great weekend,
Jennifer

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

Looking or more questions to spark your team and virtual conversations? My newest book - Effective Virtual Conversations - launched earlier this month and is available at Amazon and our site.