Category: Team Buiding

#TEAMS365 #2047 – Team Building Tip 248

8/8/2019

Exceptional results usually don’t “just happen”, they require practice. For teams this holds true. Teamwork practice can include skill development in areas including conflict, communication (listening, questioning, working across differences). It can also include scenario-based learning (what would we do if x happened?).

While some teams might think that practice is not for them, others may recognize that practice is essential for exceptional performance. When stakes are high, lives may be impacted by failure, it’s key to get it right.

Practice also helps us with alignment, and development shared mental models. It’s these shared mental models that help us move in similar directions when faced with a situation, even if we are in different continents, or in different roles.

As a team, where could practice benefit you?

What do you as a team need to do practice more?

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.

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#TEAMS365 #1837 – Team Building Tip #218

1/10/2019

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It’s Thursday and time for a Team Building Tip. It’s number 218 in the series. Today’s question is “Our pacesetter is…”

In today’s world of complexity and ongoing change, one area we still have control over is our pace. A great question to consider is “Who is our pacesetter?” OR “Our pacesetter is….”.

As you consider the landscape of your work, who is setting the bar?

What are the practices or examples you can learn from, or aspire to…?
Who on your team is going to set the pace and get things moving?
Who are the people on the team who can keep moving you forward?
There may be people on the team who are inclined to keep going?

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton – Potentials Realized
Leadership | Teamwork | Business Success
Author of multiple books including Effective Virtual Conversations (2017), Coaching Business Builder (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

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#TEAMS365 #1830- Team Building Tip #217

1/3/2019

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Welcome back to the first Teams365 Team Building Tip for 2019. A reminder that every Thursday I include a question to bring into your weekly team or project meetings, to spark conversation. You can review the past 200 here.

The first question of this year gets you to think about, and be in dialogue around, the question “By the end of this year, we will…”. Take a few minutes in this first meeting of the year to discuss and dream. Capture your ideas, and perhaps take a photo of it which you can circulate and share with the entire team. As I have written in past blog posts, it is important to keep your vision visible throughout the year.

I’ve also made available in a digital license format a series of 56 Teams365 Team Sparkers. This brings together a majority of the first year’s weekly questions in a card format. You can purchase a hard copy set here, or order the digital set. The digital step includes a couple of bonus resources to make up 56 jpegs you can copy and paste into your presentations and meetings. Check out Volume 1 here which is bundled with the Conversation Sparker cards.

Enjoy the conversation!
Jennifer

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#TEAMS365 #1738 - Team Building Tip #204

10/4/2018

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#204 – Is everyone clear what exceptional team performance looks like?
Today we are at Team Building Tip #204, getting you as a team to explore the question “Is everyone clear what exceptional team performance looks like?”.
In today’s team context, where virtual teams sound, and people may not have the luxury of operating together, and seeing work outputs visually, spending time as a team to clearly define what “Exceptional Team performance” and results looks like is key.

One of the tools I share in my latest book, the Coaching Business Builder Workbook and Planner, is that of the IS/IS NOT Table. When assigning tasks, or talking about performance, are we getting really specific and granular about what the end results IS and IS NOT? Making a list of these two in contrast, can help to tease out some of the unspoken expectations.

Another great way to prompt this conversation about what exceptional team performance looks like is by having some discussion around your “PEAK EXPERIENCE”. Have your team discuss and share times when you were at your best, and have done your best work. Share details about WHAT you did (Behaviors), HOW you did it (Practices), and the Characteristics of the Work and Your Relationships.

Revisiting these questions regularly can help with alignment and propelling the team through the murky waters of performance.
Let us know what you as a team have done to ensure that everyone is clear about what exceptional team performance looks like.

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: info@potentialsrealized.com
(416)996-8326

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#Teams365 #1592: #FlashbackFriday - Listening for Different Styles on the TEam

5/11/2018

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We know that diverse styles on a team creates a strength and supports results, when teams know how to work effectively together. The ability to work across differences is a skill set which may need to be cultivated intentionally by teams today.

For this week's #FlashbackFriday post I wanted to reach back to #Teams365 #1140 when I wrote the post "Listening for Different Styles on the Team". You may want to consider it in light of Wednesday's posts - Team skills in complexity - Listening.

Here's what I wrote in Teams365 #1140:

"Some of the most effective teams bring complimentary styles. There is great strength in diversity and in working collaboratively it is important to provide time and space for all team members to become more aware of the unique contributions they make to the team. Part of this involves helping the team develop a better understanding of their strengths, as well as their skills and their unique styles.
Our styles shape how we communicate (and appreciate communication), how we make decisions, and also how we interpret information. For example, as someone who values the big picture I will listen for that rather than details. In making decisions, I may think of the big picture or strategic issues first, then the minute details of what needs to be done. If I am a leader with that style, I may have a bias for painting the big picture and the “WHY”, AND need to recognize that many team leaders may also need communication, and support, around the more granular details.
Whether you are using an Everything DiSC or an MBTI or other style assessments, an enhanced understanding of our styles can be of benefit to know:
·         What our own preferences are
·         How our preferences and styles can become augmented when we are under stress or pressure
·         How we need to adjust our style for those on the team that have a different preference and style
This week during your team meeting, get people to notice the type of language of different team members. What does that signal about how they interpret information, like to be supported, or how they make decisions?
For more on how to bring the Everything DiSC into your workplace, please contact me."

I continue to see the value of teams who choose to invest some of their team development time by exploring DiSC. Programs can range from a five hour program, to a one-or two day session, combined with additional team building support. I offer sessions to teams in person and virtually. Drop me an email at info@potentialsrealized.com to learn more about how we can support your team.

Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders
Coaching Skills Training | Leadership Development | Teamwork
Growing Team Leaders, One Conversation at a Time(TM)
Contact us to discuss leadership, coaching or performance needs for your and your team
Phone: (416)996-8326

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#Teams365 #1529: #FlashbackFriday: Building Trust and Connection

3/9/2018

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It's #FlashbackFriday and with team development as our focus this month here at the Teams365 blog, I thought about what questions do I consistently get asked by leaders, trainers and facilitators the most? It was an easy answer - TRUST and CONNECTION.

A few weeks ago I did a 35 minute call on Building Trust and Connection - Virtually as my Feb/March Effective Virtual Conversations Community Call. You can view it here on YouTube.

I also wanted to reach back to Teams365 #1123 which touched on TRUST and Connection and linked to a Pulse Post I wrote last year. Here's what I shared about a year ago at the Blog in Teams365 #1123:

"One of the themes that always arises in the dialogue I have with leaders is "what can I do to build more trust and connection with my team". This is an issue for virtual team leaders, and in-person team leaders alike.

Given how important this issue is, I dedicated my most recent LinkedIn Pulse posts to the topic of Building Trust and Connection with your team. One reader recently commented that she really liked how practical the tips were. So, if you are looking for some practical, actionable approaches to further build trust and connection with your team, I hope you will check out my pulse post - Building Trust and Connection with Your Team - here.

A couple of generic reminders to keep in mind about trust before signing off today:
1. Trust is usually not a static thing. It fluctuates over time, which means we always want to be paying attention to, and fostering trust.
2. Until we feel safe in a team, it's likely we will engage and show up to do our best work. What are you doing to boost connection across the team? What intentional activities are you undertaking with your virtual team to help them connect?
3. As quickly as trust is created, it can be eroded. As Steven Covey writes - you can have trust deposits, and trust withdrawls. What's your balance right now?

Click on over to LinkedIn to read my latest Pulse posts on Building Trust and Connection with your team. "

Practically, and tactically, what are the things you can be doing this month to build trust and connection?

With best wishes,
Jennifer

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#Teams365 #1528: Team Building Tip #173

3/8/2018

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It's Thursday and time for another Team Building Tip. This one is Teams365 team building question #173.

Elite, and exceptional, performance comes from regular actions, done consistently. If we are not undertaking activities on a regular basis they may not generate enough momentum or movement to create these exceptional breakthroughs.

In today's leadership and team realm we are talking a lot more about the importance of habits. Habits are activities we undertake so regularly that they become almost automatic. When we don't engage in them, we miss them.

A first step in starting to develop the habits that can drive you towards the results that you want it is to identify what results you are seeking, and then work backwards to ask "What has been getting us these results?". What are these regular activities which are helping you as a team?

As with every Thursday team building question, I hope that you will bring this into your conversation this week.

Enjoy,
Jennifer

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

Looking for practical things to do with your virtual team? Refer to chapters 7, 10, 11 and 12 of my newest book. Pick up a copy of my new book, Effective Virtual Conversations, at Amazon.

This month at the Teams365 Leadership Lab we are exploring the topic of Coaching Skills for Leaders. Is coaching a consistent habit you undertake as a leader? What results do you notice because of these regular coaching conversations?

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Teams365 Blog

#TEAMS365 #2047 – Team Building Tip 248

#TEAMS365 #1837 – Team Building Tip #218

#TEAMS365 #1830- Team Building Tip #217

#TEAMS365 #1738 - Team Building Tip #204

#Teams365 #1592: #FlashbackFriday - Listening for Different Styles on the TEam

#Teams365 #1529: #FlashbackFriday: Building Trust and Connection

#Teams365 #1528: Team Building Tip #173

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