Jump from an I-Pod to a We-Pod

patricia6789 - Wednesday, 2 May 2012 11:24

In previous posts I have promised to take a deeper dive into each component of the upcoming class, Jump-Start Your Team. The entire focus is to jump from the I-Pod to the We-Pod as a culture. Today I’d like talk about the accountability aspect of collaborative leadership and high performance. When using a process like the Jump-Start, High Performance Model, one that promotes collaborative and open communication, accountability becomes a supportive process that leads to greater success. When I look at the essence of what this process is all about, I realize it is symbolic of the technological time we live in and the new networking opportunities that are possible. Even before the I-Pod culture became as developed as it is now, with the increase in technology, more information to digest, and teams who have global or remotes members, the essential alone quality of working in large organizations has been prevalent. Because so much of our work is done via e-mail, we tend to work in our own pod or bubble, and have the illusion of connection, yet there is so much information and communication missing, that connection and relationship are stymied. Because our culture has become more virtual, it is essential to find ways that allow all members to experience the full advantage of being part of a team. In the I-pod culture, where it is easy to reside, we tend to operate in the bubble of isolation. But if we have an accountability partner to discuss goals and action steps with, this bubble disappears, and the connection to other people, working either in the same region or on the same aspect of business, increases. With the increase in connection, solutions are easier to achieve. As I mentioned earlier, accountability is a supportive process, leading to greater success. The Jump-start process helps companies go from an I-Pod culture to a We-Pod culture. Team members create partnerships that continue over time. Below are a few tips for creating greater accountability in your teams:

  • During the initial group focus meeting, each person chooses a colleague as an accountability partner.
  • Partners in a 1:1 conversation set initial goals for the next three months and discuss action steps to be taken within the next week or two.
  • 15 to 30-minute regular follow-up calls are scheduled between partners to go over the completion of steps, to discuss progress; what worked and what is challenging. Calls should always stay focused on action steps and goals.
  • Each team partner commits to holding each other accountable, and contributes feedback or ideas when asked.
This process begins to break down the isolation barriers that exist in a highly charged, busy and challenging environment. It also gives everyone opportunities for creative thinking, which in an overall way, develops the culture for innovation. If you’d like to learn more about how to jump-start your team into High Performance, be sure to check out the virtual, interactive class series that starts on May 15. For more information visit: Jump-Start Your Team Do you have any accountability experiences you’d like to share? I’d enjoying hearing from you; please be sure to leave a comment. Read More

Tags: , , ,   |  Posted under Culture of Collaboration, Mindset, Team Building  |  No Comments

Are Your Executive Teams Looking Up for Answers?

patricia6789 - Thursday, 29 September 2011 04:30

This month I continue traveling cross country working with organizations, their teams and individuals helping them move into updated organizational networks, with new outlooks about the importance of teams and team alignment. My latest work has been in financial services, a national lab, and a national nonprofit. In all of these companies the status quo or organization and relationship is being questioned, and new ways to inspire, use time efficiently, and to collaborate are in the forefront. These organizations are now focusing on reinventing their identity, their ways of working, and consciously expanding the abilities of each person involved in the evolution to a higher level. Team Collaboration and Alignment is an important part of this process and must be the new focus for all businesses the second decade of the 21st century as it is the sure path to increased results. The key is a change in mindset around the importance of people and aligning vision and actions to achieve stated strategic goals. Our Team Alignment program provides organizations like the above with new methods for making communication a key component in planning for implementation, and represents a sure fire method to make results happen quickly. You may remember the three essential components to Team Alignment in prior postings:

  1. Communication
  2. Accountability, and
  3. Solution Focus
Today my focus in on the Communication component, which I would like to suggest you include in your next team meeting. If you have not been meeting as a team but more in twos and threes or just when there is a “need”, then I suggest setting time aside for a team meeting for the next four weeks. Take time in the first meeting to have each person:
  • Introduce themselves
  • The way they see their function
  • How their function relates to the function of each person at the table
    • Then it will be valuable to see if what people have said about their function, is actually how others see it. Obviously, if there are differences there is an opportunity created for more clarity to be established.
    • The focus of the team meeting will be to develop the alignment so discussion of current business can follow.
I will write in my next post about the remaining meetings of the four. In the meantime, make sure they are set up in advance and scheduled so people can arrange or rearrange the calendar. It is important to make these times a priority and for everyone on the team to do so. If you are the leader of a team taking the above steps and prioritizing communication will create powerful results. Contact me today to become more familiar with this very practical and effective process, and how it will help your organization increase productivity and results. I also invite you to learn more by reading an article recently published in Leadership Excellence, Collaboration, Create a Team Culture. The link is here: leadership_excellence_heyman.pdf Read More

Tags:   |  Posted under Culture of Collaboration, Leadership, Mindset, Team Building  |  No Comments