Teams365 Blog - POTENTIALS REALIZED

Teams365 #3174: Boosting Your Team Practices- 10 Ideas

9/13/2022

Yesterday I shared our recent 90-Day Guide for Success video: Routines, Habits and Practices – if you missed it you can view it here.

In yesterday’s post I shared more about routines and habits in support of performance, but what about practices?

Practices are things we do on a regular basis to support relationships and results. This might include:

Weekly or bi-weekly Team Meetings
Monthly social events for team members to connect – i.e. afterwork fun events like ping pong or lunchtime potlucks
Quarterly Team Booster Shots or Retreats – one of our most popular offerings this year has been half day Team Strengths Days which we offer to teams virtually, helping them learn more about themselves, their strengths and/or styles. Take a look at what we do and learn more about our Team Days
Team buddies – where team members are paired with one or two others to create informal peer connections and/or mentoring
Formal and informal mentoring
Lunch and learns to facilitate learning more formally
Development and review of team norms on a regular basis

Beyond events, we want to make sure that as teams we are:

Connecting – getting to know each other. Understanding our roles and how they overlap
Communicating – Formally and informally. Taking time to review and focus on how effective our different communication channels are
Collaborating

In fact, all of the 7 Cs I shared as Remote Enablers are just as important as team practices. Be sure to check out the 7 Enablers again if you haven’t revisited them in a while. You can find them in this video entitled Remote Team Boosters.

You can also read more about them in much greater depth in Reconnecting Workspaces, as well as the 90-Day Guide for Success.

Enjoy the conversation!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326

Check out my TEDx talk

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.

Teams365 #2876 - Week in Review

11/14/2021

It’s been a full week, and we’ve covered a lot of ground, particularly to Chapter 9 of Reconnecting Workspaces. https://www.amazon.com/Reconnecting-Workspaces-Pathways-Thrive-Virtual/dp/0993791557

This week we covered the following:

Monday- Introduction to Leadership Practices

Tuesday- Quote from Peter Drucker

Wednesday- Reconnecting the Workspace Tip, Listening and Questions

Thursday- Principle in Empowering Others

Friday – A myth in the virtual space is that it’s all about the leader

Saturday – What the report is and is not.

Enjoy your reflection!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326

Check out my TEDx talk
https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_britton_virtual_remote_and_hybrid_checklist_aug_2021

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.

Teams365 #2875 - Team Tool: Is/ Is Not

11/13/2021

While it might sound clear, the person hearing this may have a very different idea of what’s needed. To avoid assumptions, create clarity. This can be assisted by what Steve Robbins calls the Is/Is Not tool. In an Is/Is Not tool, we want to have people articulate what the report is and is not.

Let’s look at the report writing example more in depth. To really leverage the Is/Is Not tool, you would want to get even more granular. For example,

The report is:

Detailed
Geared for our customers
Showcasing at least six examples
Including _(quantity)_ photos of the work in action
Including _(quantity)_ stakeholders’ voices

The report is not:

Video based • Future focused
Geared for staff
Focused on what didn’t work

In any projects you have coming up, consider how you might be able to use an Is/Is Not framework to help create clarity around the results. This helps to make things very specific and avoid assumptions. A key virtual tip is to name assumptions.

Enjoy your weekend,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326

Check out my TEDx talk
https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_britton_virtual_remote_and_hybrid_checklist_aug_2021

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.

Teams365 #2874 - Myth: It's All About the Leader

11/12/2021

A myth in the virtual space is that it’s all about the leader, when in fact, it’s usually all about the efforts of the entire team.

While not to minimize the role of the leader who plays a key role in coordinating, and, as Drucker says, “orchestrating,” a large part of the virtual leader’s role is to ensure that the team has the resources, skills, tools, and direction to do their best work.

Happy Friday,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326

Check out my TEDx talk
https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_britton_virtual_remote_and_hybrid_checklist_aug_2021

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.

Teams365 #2873 - Principle: Empower Others

11/11/2021

A virtual team leader’s role is to empower and enable others.

Consider what’s going to help your team and others be successful.

Best,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326

Check out my TEDx talk
https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_britton_virtual_remote_and_hybrid_checklist_aug_2021

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.

Teams365 #2872 - Reconnecting the Workspace Tip: Listening and Questions

11/10/2021

In reconnecting workspaces, it’s critical for leaders to leverage the skills of listening and asking great questions that invite input and expansion. Questions asked can either expand awareness for our team members or focus their attention or drive to a point.

Curiosity is key to an open mindset. Asking questions from a place of curiosity helps to surface possibilities and explore options. In the virtual, hybrid, and remote space, we often are not aware of “what’s beyond the screen” of our team members. We can’t see their context, or know what’s on their desk, other than what systems can inform us.

Great questions are informed by great listening. Take note of what you are listening for. What are you noticing about your team member’s voice? Body language? Facial expressions?

The best questions are short (usually 5–7 words in length) and start with What.

Create opportunities to connect people with each other and the resources, information, authority, and autonomy they need to do their best work. Refer to the multiple questions included here.

End of Chapter Questions

What can you do to create shared expectations?
What application do you have for the Is/Is Not Tool?
What can you do to incorporate more praise and rewards and recognition?
What will you do differently in your one-on-ones?

Enjoy the conversation,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326

Check out my TEDx talk
https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_britton_virtual_remote_and_hybrid_checklist_aug_2021

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.

Teams365 #2869 - Now What? Integration

11/7/2021

And that’s a wrap for Chapter 8 of Reconnecting Workspaces: Pathways to Thrive in the Virtual, Remote and Hybrid World.

What has been your favorite post? We’ve explored 21 different topics in the last 3 weeks from this chapter on Teamwork in the Hybrid and Remote world including this week’s posts of:

Saturday’s Weekly Journaling prompt – What’s important to integrate?

Friday’s Flashback

Thursday’s Six Teamwork Questions (be sure to incorporate these into your next team meeting)

Wednesday’s Remote Pathways podcast #47 – Onboarding and Re-boarding in Today’s Evolving Workspace. Be sure to listen in here-https://www.remotepathways.com/podcast/ep47-onboarding-and-reboarding-in-todays-evolving-workspace

Tuesday’s focus on the Brain Tip – Zoom Fatigue is Real (and what to do about that!)

Monday’s Metaphor of this chapter on teamwork and a link to the Hybrid Work Style Quiz. Be sure to check out the quiz here – https://bitly.com/hybridworkquiz.

Thanks for joining us for the chapter! See you tomorrow as we move into Chapter 9 of Reconnecting Workspaces https://www.amazon.com/Reconnecting-Workspaces-Pathways-Thrive-Virtual/dp/0993791557

Have a great week!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326

Check out my TEDx talk
https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_britton_virtual_remote_and_hybrid_checklist_aug_2021

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.

Teams365 #2864 - Brain Tip: Zoom Fatigue is Real, and What to Do About It

11/2/2021

In Chapter 8 of Reconnecting Workspaces- https://www.amazon.com/Reconnecting-Workspaces-Pathways-Thrive-Virtual/dp/0993791557, I share the Brain tip that Zoom Fatigue is Real. It’s not just you, most of us feel the time spent on zoom!

Here’s what I write on pages 164 and 165 of Reconnecting Workspaces:
BRAIN TIP: ZOOM FATIGUE IS REAL

In February 2021, Stanford researchers, led by Jeremy Bailenson, noted that their research uncovered four cases of Zoom fatigue. Zoom fatigue is real!

They identified these four factors leading to Zoom fatigue, making the following recommendations to mitigate against it:

1. Excessive amounts of close-up eye contact is highly intense. When faces are seen so large, “Our brains interpret it as an intense situation that is either going to lead to mating or to conflict.” Bailenson and his team recommended minimizing face size by coming out of full-screen mode. Personally, I take off my glasses!

2. Seeing yourself during video chats constantly in real time is fatiguing. Adjust your settings to “hide self view.”

3. Mobility is reduced. Bailenson notes that “when people are moving, they’re performing better cognitively.”139 Researchers suggest turning video off periodically, or doodling to get activated. Personally, I incorporate a lot of annotation where people can work on the screen, or build in activity breaks to get people, and their brains, moving!

4. Cognitive load is much higher in video chats. Researchers suggest going to audio-only at times, and also turning your body away from the screen. As I like to note, activate the 20/20/20 rule to video meetings: every 20 minutes, take 20 seconds to raise your eyes from the screen, to look ahead 20 feet.”

Excerpt: Pages 164-165, Reconnecting Workspaces, 2021 Jennifer Britton. All Rights Reserved.

Enjoy the reflection,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326

Check out my TEDx talk
https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_britton_virtual_remote_and_hybrid_checklist_aug_2021

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.

Teams365 #2859 - Three Principles for Virtual and Remote Team Practices

10/28/2021

Practices are key for keeping team moving along
Virtual and Remote Team Practices—Three Principles

In general, when thinking about practices, it can be important to follow these three virtual foundations:

1. Keep it simple
2. Make it visible
3. Make it accessible

Keeping it simple is critical when there may be different team members who might interpret things differently. Simplicity is key for remote work, especially when different languages are at play.

Complexity is the kiss of death! Making things visible helps to keep things clear and top of mind. Examples of making things visible range from using streaming where possible, to using visual dashboards like the Red, Yellow, and Green Stoplight, to sending out visual reminders.

Another important part of making things visible is unearthing assumptions. Assumptions are inevitable in virtual teams and serve to weaken the foundation.
Keeping things visual and visible is key to remote work success. This can be achieved with the use of Kanban boards, slide design, visual dashboards, and videos, to name a few. Kanban boards help us to lay out and visualize workflows, with the tracking columns, “To Do,” “In Progress,” and “Done.” As Kim Scott writes, “A Kanban board is different from a dashboard because it focuses activities and work in progress. It gives your team time to identify and resolve
issues before they hurt the results.”

What can you do to visualize your workflows, both as a team and individually?
Another important tool is the One-Page Plan, which is explored later in this chapter.

Making things accessible so that people can access things 24/7 on different platforms, connections, and ways is also critical. Virtual and remote teams will want to get into the practice of thinking through how they are going to file things, and where and how they are going to update versions.

These small issues can become a critical issue when files are not updated and saved and team members work off of old versions”

Excerpt from Reconnecting Workspaces, page 141 and 142.

What is important for you to note about making things visible, keeping things simple and making them accessible?

Enjoy your reflection!
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized |Reconnecting Workspaces | Group Coaching Essentials
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Retreats
Follow us on Instagram @ReconnectingWorkspaces
Phone: (416)996-8326

Check out my TEDx talk
https://www.ted.com/talks/jennifer_britton_virtual_remote_and_hybrid_checklist_aug_2021

Looking to bring your workplaces back together, whether you are remote, hybrid, or face-to-face? Pick up a copy of my new book, Reconnecting Workspaces, at Amazon.

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.com/Reconnecting-Workspaces-Pathways-Thrive-Virtual/dp/0993791557