Teams365 Blog - Potentials Realized

#TEAMS365 #1869 – Effective Virtual Conversations Tip #81

2/11/2019

o There are many, many different types of conversations we can be having in the virtual space today – from virtual team meetings, to mentoring conversations, to coaching conversations.

In Effective Virtual Conversations I introduce 9 different parts of the virtual eco-system. These include:

Educational Events - Instructor/Facilitator led synchronous or asynchronous training through webinars, e-learning, webcasts
Peer to Peer Learning – Masterminds, Breakouts
Goal Setting
Informal Learning: Coaching/Training/Facilitating/Mentoring
Micro-Learning
Virtual Team Development
Video-Based Learning

Check out chapter 4 of Effective Virtual Conversations for more information about each of these different modalities.

What are the different types of conversations you are having? What makes them different from each other. As I write in EVC there can be a variety of individual versus peer-led conversations, formal approaches versus informal approaches.

It’s important to consider the right type of conversation which will be most impactful for the situation. For example, if someone wants to learn how to do something – i.e. replace a fan belt, a short video-based learning series might be most effective in demonstrating the replacement in action. This may be even more effective than pairing them with a mentor.

In contrast, if a team is looking to boost their connection and strengthen their goals, consider a live virtual facilitated team development session where they are meeting face to face, rather than putting them through a series of micro-learning modules delivered via your Learning Management System.

What are the best vehicles for upcoming conversations you have planned?
Also check out the Community Call I hosted on the different platforms for Effective Virtual Conversations. View it here.

Next week’s EVC tip will explore the related question of What’s the Best Platform for my conversation? Stay Tuned!

Best,
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
Join the conversation at our Conversation Sparker Zone - a community where you can connect and explore topics related to virtual conversations, virtual team issues, coaching and more!

#TEAMS365 #1868 – Weekly PlanDoTrack Video Montage #9

2/10/2019

It is Sunday and time for another weekly video montage from the #90DaysPlanDoTrack series. Started in September, on the first day of fall, this is a daily Instagram series I host over at my feed – CoachingBizBuilder

Given that not everyone is on Instagram, I’ve enjoyed bringing this to you through video format.

As you explore these questions, take note of the questions which are important to you, and your work, right now.

Best,
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

#TEAMS365 #1867- Weekly Journaling Prompt #36

2/9/2019

This week’s weekly journaling prompt #36 is “The one thing which could be systematized is….”.

As I write in PlanDoTrack,
“Whether you are an entrepreneur, virtual team member or leader, having an office that runs well, and systems that support you, is essential for productivity and results. Business systems help a business flow, with automation, scaling or growth of a business. Systems can also support us when we are working from home!

How do we define a system?
A system is something we can replicate. Systems are useful for things we repeatedly do. They enable us to have multiple programs and services being offered at any one time. They also allow us to delegate and hand off items to others. “ (Britton, 2019, pp 74)

What are the things you could systematize in your business? What are the things that would help you scale?

Enjoy this week’s writing prompt!
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

#Teams365 #1866: FlashBackFRiday - Collaboration, Uncertainty and Complexity

2/8/2019

Earlier this week I hosted the February 2019 Virtual Book Club call for PlanDoTrack - my latest publication for virtual and remote team members and leaders. The focus was on Collaboration and 10 Questions to Ask When Collaborating virtually. You can view it here.

With this focus in mind, I thought it would be interesting to loop back to one of last February's post on Collaboration and a quote from me. Here's what I wrote in Teams365 last February 24, 2018:

Today's quote comes from me - "When it's uncertain, complex and changing, collaboration is needed".

One of the themes I work with teams and leaders around is the ability to become more fluid in approaches to help them with the ongoing complexity and change of their work. What once was more isolated to the type of work I did with the UN - ongoing change, ambiguity, ever changing situations, is now becoming much more common-place to everyone in the work force. It requires a different way of working, and a culture shift, for many organizations. This is not easy, nor is it quick. The change may take years to really take hold and be "lived" at all levels of an organization.

For teams and leaders, learning how to collaborate more effectively and efficiently, can be part of the shift to a more fluid working style. It's more likely that you may not have all the information you need, or can access yourself. It's likely you don't have all the relationships needed to get something done. Being able to liaise with, and work through others, is a critical skill set for today's workforce. A leaders' role, particularly one who is supporting a virtual or remote team, often becomes one of liaison - connecting others to resources and people.

What type of collaboration is needed? What is the level of skill around collaboration in your leadership? Team? I hope that you will take some time looking at the posts I've written on collaboration this month and in my earlier years of the blog. Check out past posts on collaboration here.

What is important to note about collaboration for you in your work right now?

Enjoy the conversation,
Jennifer

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

#TEAMS365 #1865 – Team Building Tip 222

2/7/2019

This week’s Thursday Team Building Tip #222 is the question “We need to say no to….”. While this may be a provocative question in some organizational contexts, it is an important one to ask in highly changing contexts.

Focus and priorities can become even more important in ever changing contexts. It is key to watch for the trap of trying to do it all or trying to respond to every new iteration. If we do, we may run into the danger of spreading ourselves too thin.

In rapidly changing contexts, priorities can also change just as fast. It is important to be able to discern what is truly important.

Asking the question – We need to say no to…. – can help with FOCUS and PRIORITIES.

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

#TEAMS365 #1864 – Productivity Tip 17- Set a Start and an End Date

2/6/2019

Tip #17 – Set a start & an end date: Parkinson’s Rule

“To the person who does not know where (S)he wants to go there is no favorable wind” – Seneca

There’s an old project management adage, known as Parkinson’s Rule, that tasks expand to the amount of time we give them. In other words, if we set a deadline of getting something done by end of day tomorrow, we’ll get it done. Conversely, we could have fixed another deadline of early next week, and the task might have stretched out to then as well.

Considering our start and end dates is critical in juggling multiple projects. From program and product design, to administration and finances, to actually coaching, there are a lot of varied tasks which make up a successful coaching business.

What are the tasks and activities which could benefit from a more fixed start and end date?

Related to this concept is that of time estimation.

Activity
Consider the major activities, tasks and projects which are a priority this month. Where are they scheduled?
Ask yourself:

What is the start date for this project or task?
What is the end date I have set?
Could the end date be a bit more aggressive so that the task could be completed in a more condensed manner? If not, why not?
What is important to notice about start and end dates? How my tasks are expanding to the time I give them?
What’s currently not getting done, which I wish it was?
If it’s not about changing time windows, WHO can help me get it done? WHAT other resources do I need to allocate?
What changes would I like to make?

Conversation Sparkers

How do tasks expand to the amount of time I give them?
Where could I be more aggressive or lenient with my scheduling?

Best,
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

#TEAMS365 #1863 – Tuesday February 5 – Productivity Tip 16 – Build Relationships

2/5/2019

Tip #16 – Build Relationships

“No person is an island.” – Old Adage (in more gender inclusive language!)

As solopreneurs (one-person businesses), it can feel like we are always on our own. Relationships play a critical role in growing and maintaining a successful coaching business. Whether we are building relationships with new clients or alumni, peers, joint venture partners or coaches we can co-coach with, and partner organizations, relationship building is critical for success.

This tip gets you to think about building relationships – who you interface with regularly, who you’d like to connect with, and who are your connectors. [Connectors are individuals who are connected with those you want to reach. They can be a valuable link to your target market and/or other partners).

A first step in building relationships is to consider what you have to offer to others.

What are the skills, strengths and talents you bring to the table? What do you have to offer others?

As a second step, consider who you want to connect with and who is in your network.

How can you support others in their work? How can you support others to achieve their mandate and vision?

An ongoing focus on building solid relationships with a variety of others is important across the entire life cycle of a business.

Activity

Map out 20 people in your network. Write out their names. Consider how you interface. What do you offer them? What do they offer you?
What other people would be useful to have in your network? Consider financial, legal and administrative support. Collaborators.
How do you support their work?
How can others support you?
What could collaboration look like?

Conversation Sparkers

What key relationships are you able to lean into with your work?
What do you have to offer others in terms of your skills, talents and strengths? How can you help them magnify what they do, and who they serve?

Best,
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

#TEAMS365 #1862 – Effective Virtual Conversations Tip #80: one Platform

2/4/2019

It’s Monday and time for another Effective Virtual Conversations Tip. This week’s tip explores the tip of bringing everyone onto one virtual platform if possible.

With firewalls and varying connection from different locations, it can be common for virtual teams to have different team members connecting from different locations on different platforms. One person may only be able to call in while others may only be able to stream in.

While some of the barriers to connection may be out of our control, we want to try to bring everyone onto one virtual platform if possible.

There may be resistance on the part of team members to upgrade or try things different out, if there is too much of a learning curve, so you will want to make it worth everyone’s while.

At the same time, it is probable that you will have people connecting from different platforms due to their connection options, make sure you consider the needs of those that may be able to see, and those that may only be able to hear. Design for this. Also, be sure to consider if you can do some smaller group work, using breakouts bringing people of the same platform together. Check out this call for more!

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

#TEAMS365 #1861 – Sunday February 3 – Weekly Video Montage PlanDoTrack - Week 8

2/3/2019

It is Sunday and time to explore another weekly video montage. This week brings us to #8 in the series.

Since September 21st, I have been sharing a daily question or prompt over at the CoachingBizBuilder Instagram feed. The questions and posts are geared to support you in reflecting and taking action on key elements of your work or business.

Take a few minutes to explore week 8’s weekly video montage…
What questions resonate most with you?

We are now into our 130s of posts…so do check out the most recent posts here at the CoachingBizBuilder Instagram feed.

Enjoy!
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

#TEAMS365 #1860 – Weekly Journaling Prompt #35

2/2/2019

Happy Groundhog Day!

This week’s weekly journaling prompt #35 is “The team needs….” As a leader it can be very important to take time to take stock of where you are at – individually as a leader and also as a team.
This week’s Weekly Journaling Prompt gets you thinking about “THE TEAM NEEDS”…
Take some time this weekend to:
Take note of needs around:

Resourcing
Information
Support – from you, from peers, from others, from _______
Connection
Collaboration
Projects
Elements

What are the things you want to note as a leader or team member?
What’s important to put in place?
What’s important to share?

Best,
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