This week’s Team Building Tip asks the question – What would create more safety?

For team members to engage, or individuals to engage virtually, we need to ensure that there is safety.  This is an essential ingredient for learning, results, relationships and performance.

Safety is created through many things –

• From being clear on what people can expect
• From being clear on outcomes
• By inviting all voices into the room
• By being clear what the boundaries are around the outcome
• By clarifying roles

Safety is an important part of what I term “the triad of virtual calls”. This includes TRUST, SAFETY and CONNECTION. Be sure to check out other posts on this topic here.

As you surface this conversation, what do you notice?

Enjoy your conversations, 
​Jennifer

This week’s Team Building Question may seem a bit provocative, and in the remote space, it’s critical that we ask it – What’s not being spoken about?

When trust levels are high the question “what’s not being spoken about” can open up the doorway for a great dialogue. When trust levels are low, this question might seem very provocative.

The answer to this question can shine the light on areas you need to explore as a team, or areas to keep in min.

Here are a few other questions to keep in mind this week:

• What other areas haven’t you explored, or spoken about?
• What is taboo in terms of looking at as a team?
• What ideas are never surfaced?
• What’s not safe about bringing up an alternative view?

Enjoy your conversation,
Jennifer

PS - Take a minute and be sure to join us over at the Virtual and Remote Visionaries Hub as well on Facebook. You can join us here. 

Welcome back to another Friday post. This week I’m highlighting not Teams365 blog posts, but recent podcast episodes you’ll find at the Remote Pathways podcast. Little did my co-host and I know last fall when we started this project, how widespread remote work would become. It’s a pleasure hosting this podcast. I hope you will subscribe!
 
I hope that you will check out some of our most recent episodes:

• Remote Pathways podcast Episode #17 – Every remote worker needs leadership skills – As many organizations are finding, teamwork and leadership look different in the remote space. EVERYONE needs to have skills in the remote space. Check out Episode 17 here.
• Remote Pathways Podcast Episode 16 – Entrepreneurship in the remote space with Kim Avery. Join us for a great conversation about entrepreneurship in episode 16. Listen in here.
• Remote Pathways Podcast Episode 15 – Team Effectiveness in the Remote Space. What do teams need to excel in the remote space? Listen in to episode 15 here.
• Remote Pathways podcast Episode 14 – The Enneagram with Teresa McCloy – listen in here.
• Our most popular episode to date has been Trust and Connection in the Remote Space – a topic I cover in Chapter 2 of Effective Virtual Conversations. Check out the Trust and Connection episode here.

Have an idea for an episode or a guest you’d like to see join us? Let me know – drop me an email.
 
With best wishes,
Jennifer 

The digital space can get very crowded, with one zoom call looking like another. Today’s post gets you thinking about different ways you can stand out virtually. If you are a leader, coach or business owner, what can do you do make sure that your call stands out virtually?

#1 – Be clear – From the start, let people know what they can expect. How long is the call? What’s being covered? What is the process going to be?

#2 – Create expectations – From the start, let people know what they can expect. What is the process you are going to follow? A lack of clarity creates a lack of certainty.

#3 – Consider the visuals which will create a WOW – Our brains process visuals faster than text. What are the visual elements you want to use to help anchor your work? What is the environment you would like to create?

#4 – Create a pause – One of the common characteristics of a lot of virtual calls these days is that there is no space to breathe. Literally. There’s no pauses or chance to catch your breath. Part of creating memorability is doing something different or novel.

#5 – Create Connection – In my remote working whitepaper I shared the 7 Cs – Remote Enablers. Connection (along with clarity) is one of them. We want to make sure that we are creating CONNECTION on multiple levels, in multiple ways. What is the connection to the topic? What is the connection to a person’s world? What is the connection to others on the call? What are you doing to create connection?

#6 - What’s your call to action? What is the call to action you are making? What will people do after the call? Are you building in time for people to note their next steps? Articulate or share their next steps?

Try incorporating these steps into your next virtual conversation. I provide more tips about these in my book, Effective Virtual Conversations, or you can join me for an upcoming edition of the Virtual Facilitation Essentials program. The next one starts next week – Wednesday July 29th. Hope to have you join us – more info and registration here.

What’s your favorite tip? Share with us in the comments below.

A big thanks to those who joined me today at the Training Industry Roundtable Discussion! I hope that you enjoyed it.

Best,
​Jennifer

This week we are heading “back to the basics” again. This week’s focus is feedback. Out of so many areas teams could focus on, feedback doesn’t always make it to the top of the list. We know from research (Gottman’s work and Barbara Frederickson’s work), that teams that excel are good at both giving constructive and positive feedback. 

In the work I do, it’s important to help teams build muscles in both areas.

First, constructive feedback is critical, especially if we are in a virtual and remote team and can’t see each other regularly.

When we provide constructive feedback, which helps people explore WHAT they can do differently or better, we want to make sure our feedback is.

Specific - Don’t talk in generalities. Talk about specific examples and behaviors.

Relevant – Make sure it’s relevant to the work they are doing.

Timely – Feedback four months after the fact is not useful. Be sure to provide feedback as close to the time frame as possible.

Two way – Trust is a reciprocal relationship and feedback requires trust. Are you inviting those you are talking with to provide feedback back to you?

Feedback isn’t always an easy place or things to do and we need to make sure we do provide it regularly.

Consider what else is important about feedback. In Effective Virtual Conversations, I share the REVET model of feedback – you can find it in part 3 of the book.

While constructive feedback is needed, positive feedback is also important.

​Some research has found that teams which excel give 5 x positive feedback to every constructive piece.

What are you doing to provide feedback opportunities?

What are you doing as a team to give both positive and constructive feedback?

Best,
Jennifer

This week’s teamwork skill in focus is one that has become critical, especially when teams my not be physically working together, or even having to social distance – collaboration.

Over the last seven years collaboration has been a core theme here at the teams 365 blog, you can view other posts on this topic here:

What makes remote collaboration different:

1. We don’t see each other’s contexts regularly. What I know of your work is something that is shared, or made reference to, given that I only see the elements on the screen.
2. In the remote space it’s likely that collaboration and the skill of influence is the only way I will get things done, unless there others that are joined with me.

 
What great collaboration requires:

• Trust
• A knowledge of each other – who we are as individuals and who we are collectively
• Clarity around the purpose – why are we doing this. As Morten Hansen writes “Bad collaboration is worse than no collaboration at all.”
• Regular touchpoints (which could involve conversations, chats or electronic updates) and feedback loops
• Focused on learning – regular identification of what’s working and what’s no
• Intentional relationships - collaborative partnerships benefit from international focus – focus on The WHY we are doing things, how we are doing things and what’s at stake If it doesn’t work well

What’s important to note as it relates to your collaboration?

Best,
Jennifer

In this week’s Flashback Friday post, I am reaching back to one of the earlier posts from January 2020 – Five Focus Areas for Team Leaders. In hindsight, with all that we have moved through in recent months, it’s interesting that I chose these five areas back in January. Take a look at think about what you might want to continue to focus on going forward. Here’s what I wrote in Teams365 blog post Teams365 #2213.

This week I came across a note I had made myself late last year and never got posted. Having worked to support team leaders for a number of years, I often get asked, “what are some of the key conversations they are having with their teams right now”? Here are five areas team leaders today may be in conversation around:

#1 - Focus - With so much occurring in the workplace today – flavors of the month, shiny red objects, interruptions, course changes, external events, etc…helping our team members focus on what is important RIGHT NOW, today, can be an important message to keep reinforcing. Helping team members with prioritization skills and being able to continue to focus on what’s important without adding to the interruptions and divergence is also key. If you are operating in a team context, the impact of one team member slipping may have a domino effect. What are the things that are going to help with focus?

#2 - Connection - What are the things you can do to help people feel connected? Connected to others in the team? Connected to the resources they need? The information they need? What is important about this topic right now for the team?

#3 - Disruption and Change - Disruption and change is becoming more commonplace across industries. Global events can have local impact. Disruption in a related industry can have a trickle effect. What are you doing to help people understand how they react to change, and also build capability in the areas of strategic thinking and/or contingency planning? Having worked for many decades in the areas of strategic planning, critical thinking and contingency planning, I often take it for granted that people are using these tools. What’s important to explore and have conversation with your team?

#4 - Building Trust - As Stephen Covey wrote - and I paraphrase – “Trust is the currency of business”. What are you doing to build trust, and erode trust? In today’s fast, and sometimes remote, business context, we may only see people in “small windows” of time.  Comments, and reactions, may get magnified. Certain activities or patterns of behaviors might be perceived as the norm. What are you doing to build trust, particularly in terms of creating an environment where people can be heard, and listened to? Where follow through is modeled? Where communication fits the needs of the team? What behaviors are visible?

#5 – What can people on the team do to be able to do their best work? Finally, we know from strengths-based research that when people are able to do their best work and use their strengths, there’s greater productivity, engagement and quality of life. Check out Gallup’s Strengths Center for the latest research on this.

Asking the team what they can do to do their best work, as often as possible can be a great conversation. It may also open up a debate point of “Why can’t I do this all the time?”. While we may not be able to use strengths EVERY DAY and EVERY HOUR on every PROJECT, what can we do to magnify or expand this?

Enjoy the conversations and let us know what you are exploring in your team. 

Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders | Remote Pathways Podcast
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Everything DiSC
Phone (416)996-8326

Get your Q2 planning on with the PlanDoTrack Workbook and Planner or Coaching Business Builder

Looking to enhance your virtual conversations? Webinars? Pick up a copy of Effective Virtual Conversations at Amazon, or join me for the Virtual Facilitation Essentials program

Contact us to discuss how we can support you and your teams and organization with remote work.

Check out upcoming virtual programs on our calendar
​
PDF copies of PlanDoTrack now available! Get yours here. ​

Welcome back to another week in review! Here are the posts we’ve been exploring this week:

• Saturday’s Weekly Journaling Prompt around GROW
• Friday’s Flashback Friday post on The Teamwork Skill in Complexity – Experimentation
• Thursday’s post with a brief introduction to the RAS and the Science of Attention and the Team Building Question of What are you paying attention to?
• Wednesday’s post – Have you scheduled these 10 areas yet?
• Tuesday’s post on Building Trust and Connection in the Virtual Space
• Monday’s post – Effective Virtual Conversations Tip: Make it Visible

Have you checked out these other articles I have written recently?

Check out the article published in Training Industry Magazine on Building Virtual Team Capacity, One Coaching Conversation at a Time

Check out my Thrive Global article on Rapid Change: 6 Areas for Teams to Explore

I hope you will take a few minutes to explore the posts and consider how they can support you in your work and conversations!

Enjoy your Sunday,
​Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders | Remote Pathways Podcast
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Everything DiSC
Phone (416)996-8326

Get your Q2 planning on with the PlanDoTrack Workbook and Planner or Coaching Business Builder

Looking to enhance your virtual conversations? Webinars? Pick up a copy of Effective Virtual Conversations at Amazon, or join me for the Virtual Facilitation Essentials program

Contact us to discuss how we can support you and your teams and organization with remote work.

Check out upcoming virtual programs on our calendar
​
PDF copies of PlanDoTrack now available! Get yours here. ​

As most teams move into an extended working relationship virtually, making sure that you are regularly focusing on trust and connection in the team is paramount. Without it, it’s likely that teams will not be able to get the traction that they really need.

The topic of building trust and connection in the virtual space is a focus of chapter 2 in my 2017 book Effective Virtual Conversations. In it I discuss the varied ways to build trust and connection virtually. Whether it’s being CONSISTENT, or communicating regularly with consistent messaging, trust and connection is key.

This was also the focus of the mid-May Community Call I co-host with my podcast partner in crime Michelle Mullins.

I’d invite you to check out the call – 30 minutes (and mark down Thursday June 4th at 7 am ET as our next call – held in zoom room 270-302-0415. Scroll ahead to about minute 15 as we talk about the duality of trust which I first shared here at the Teams365 blog in Teams365 #413 – view it here.)
 
What are the actions you want to undertake consistently to build trust and connection?
​
Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders | Remote Pathways Podcast
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Everything DiSC
Phone (416)996-8326

Get your Q2 planning on with the PlanDoTrack Workbook and Planner or Coaching Business Builder

Looking to enhance your virtual conversations? Webinars? Pick up a copy of Effective Virtual Conversations at Amazon, or join me for the Virtual Facilitation Essentials program

Contact us to discuss how we can support you and your teams and organization with remote work.

Check out upcoming virtual programs on our calendar
​
PDF copies of PlanDoTrack now available! Get yours here. ​

Earlier this week I did a post on the importance of collaboration. That got me to thinking, what other posts I have shared around collaboration. It took me back to some posts I had written back in 2017 when I had focused on Collaboration for the month of February. Here are some of the posts you may want to check out.
 
That month some of the most popular posts were:

• Teams365 #1152: Five Ingredients for Successful Collaboration - Listen into this audio post here.
• Teams365 #1149: Leveraging Peer Conversations for Better Collaboration - Click here to read the post
• Teams365 #1135: Six Barriers to Collaboration. Click here to read the post.
• Teams365 #1137: Flashback Friday - Skills for Collaboration. Click here to visit this post.

 
What post is your favourite?
 
Best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton
Potentials Realized | Coaching Team Leaders | Remote Pathways Podcast
Team and Leadership Development | Coaching | Everything DiSC
Phone (416)996-8326

Get your Q2 planning on with the PlanDoTrack Workbook and Planner or Coaching Business Builder

Looking to enhance your virtual conversations? Webinars? Pick up a copy of Effective Virtual Conversations at Amazon, or join me for the Virtual Facilitation Essentials program

Contact us to discuss how we can support you and your teams and organization with remote work.

Check out upcoming virtual programs on our calendar
​
PDF copies of PlanDoTrack now available! Get yours here. ​