Category: Problem Solving

#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).
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#TEams365 #1606: #FlashBackFriday:

5/25/2018

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It's time for another FlashBack Friday. This month we've been exploring teamwork skills required during times of complexity. A key theme has been to equip all team members with skills so they can do their best work. Earlier thsi week, I focused on skills for problem solving. If you have not checked out an older audio post #Teams365 #488, I invite you to do that now. Likewise, decision making skills are also important. Check out Teams365 #495 for another audio post on 2 Decision Making Skills.

If you enjoyed these two posts, and are looking for more facilitation tools and processes to share with your team, do check out some of my past series including these posts on Facilitation. The posts range from virtual conversations to in person events. Check them out here.

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

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.

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#Teams365 #1285: 3 Audios for your Weekend Enjoyment - Collaboration, Virtual Meetings and Problem Solving

7/8/2017

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Today's Saturday post takes us back to some of the many short audios I've covered over the past few years on a range of leadership and teamwork topics. I wanted to highlight 3 different ones today which I hope you might click on over to listen to:

#Teams365 #1152: 5 Ingredients for Successful Collaboration (5 min). Listen to it here

#Teams365 #390: Hosting Effective Virtual Meetings (10 min) Listen to it here. This is a pre-cursor to the topic of virtual meetings and other virtual conversations I will be highlighting in my upcoming book, Effective Virtual Conversations.

#Teams365 #488: Three Problem Solving Tools (9 min). Three essential tools for project teams, agile teams or other teams who need quick identification of issues and subsequent action. Listen to it here.

Have a great weekend,
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
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)

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#teams365 #1215: Saturday Audio in Review: 3 Problem Solving Tools

4/29/2017

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This week at the Teams365 blog we have been focusing on different tools to support teams with teamwork. Today's post takes us back to an audio post from early 2015 on three different problem solving tools. It's very common for team leaders to be ewanting more resources and tools to support their conversations with the team. Listen into Teams365 #488 to this 9 minute audio on three tools you might bring into your nex problem solving. Consider how you can share these as well with your team, particularly if you are a virtual team leader.

Click on over to Teams365 #488 to listen in.

The three tools we look at include the Fishbone, as well as the Force Field Analysis tool.

Have a great weekend,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized - Coaching, Training and Consulting Services for Teams and Team Leaders - specializing in virtual and global team issues
Recipient of the 2016 Prism Award for Excellence in Coaching (ICF Toronto)
Contact us to discuss how we can support your team
(416)996-8326
Email: info(at)potentialsrealized(dot)com

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#teams365 #1079: Team Development Activity K is for Knots

12/14/2016

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Today's Team Development Activity brings us to K which I've selected for knots. Problem solving is a key competency for teams of all types. Getting the team to work on knots, figuratively and literally can be a way to get braining thinking in different ways.

As a young leader myself decades ago we did a fun activity called Human Knots. It was an experiment in problem solving. While it may be a little trickier for us to navigate as we get older (and do take note of safety concerns) you may want to try this one.

have everyone stand in a circle and put one hand into the center. Grab another team members hand. Now, reach across and grab another person's hand. The task is to "unknot" yourself. It takes some ingenuity and good communication to make it happen.

As mentioned, problem solving is a key activity for teams today. TAke a look back at some of the faciltiation tools I've shared over time, including the FishBone (Teams365 171), and Teams365 #705: Creative Problem Solving which you can read here.

Have a great Wednesday,
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)

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#teams365 #705: Team Building Activity #1: Creative Problem Solving

12/6/2015

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As team leaders it can be useful to have a variety of team building tools and activities at our finger tips. Today's post covers one of these. It is a great activity to stimulate creative problem solving.

Team building is not just about creating stronger connections amongst team members, it is also about getting clearer on results and the goals you are working towards. This activity falls in the later category

First, get the team to identify and name the one challenge they want to focus on. Perhaps it's increase sales or build stronger relationships. Write out the
focus area and place it in the middle of the table.
Provide each team member with a large post it note or piece of paper.

Have each person write out one idea they would like to contribute towards a solution for that issue. So, if you are trying increase sales, the suggestion might be to increase to a new market place. Or undertake a new social media ad campaign.

Then, have them pass it onto the next person. That person will add onto the original idea providing more detail or additional suggestions.

Pass it on then to the third person and have them continue to build on with additional suggestions.

After three or four rounds collect the ideas and read through them as a group. From the total amount select the top 3-5 strategies you will follow up on as a team. In order to decide on which ones you want to go with you may use colored dots (or colored markers) for voting.

If you try this out, let us know what you results it has!

Have a great Sunday,
Jennifer

Jennier Britton
Potentials Realized
Coaching Team Leaders
(For more cool ideas on things to do with your teams, check out the 40 Ways to Use Visual Cards e-manual or the Engaging Exercises for TEams and Groups E-manuals

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Teams365 Blog

#TEAMS365 #1927 - Creating a Strong Team Identity

#TEams365 #1606: #FlashBackFriday:

#Teams365 #1285: 3 Audios for your Weekend Enjoyment - Collaboration, Virtual Meetings and Problem Solving

#teams365 #1215: Saturday Audio in Review: 3 Problem Solving Tools

#teams365 #1079: Team Development Activity K is for Knots

#teams365 #705: Team Building Activity #1: Creative Problem Solving

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