Archive for the ‘Teams’ category

The ABCD of Trust

Trust is something that I hold in very high regard, indeed I would say it is crucial to me and the relationships that I have. I need to feel that I’m trusted and I need to feel that I can trust, be that an individual, a team or an organisation.
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I’m sure like me that you’ve walked away from many deals, purchases, sales because of a lack of trust in the person that you’re talking too. Sometimes you are quite clear as to your reasons why, at other times there is just ‘something’ that you can’t quite identify.

‘ » Read more: TRUST The foundation for effective relationships

In a previous blog entry (Performance Management – Managers need to be role models) I discussed the significance and importance of Performance Management in a team or organisation and, in particular, looking at the role of the leader or manager in doing so. But what are the consequences of not addressing performance issues that arise, how might this lack of action impact on the other team members or individuals around them? How might it begin to impact on the team, the company and your customers for example? Here are some ideas to consider;

   » Read more: Performance Management – The impact of not addressing issues

Some simple tips for using email

A simple list of Do’s and Don’ts that might come in handy when using email as a communication tool.

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» Read more: Email – Do’s and Don’ts

A simple checklist that will be useful for any leaders or managers who are currently managing transitions or changes within their team or organisation.

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» Read more: 7 Principles for Leaders in Managing Transitions

Here is a list of top tips to help you when managing change and transition either in your personal life or your professional life;

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» Read more: Top Tips for managing change and transition

Let me start this blog with a bit of a story (just bear with me here)……

A few years ago we were on holiday with some friends who had a young son and to keep him occupied they had brought along a kit for him to make bracelets. One quiet afternoon he decided to make everyone a friendship bracelet. He spent ages selecting the materials, choosing the design and then making each one. He then took great pride and pleasure in giving each of us our own individual bracelets. Whilst it was a lovely idea, with lots of thought, care and attention going into the making of it, the skills didn’t quite match up to the intention and well… it wasn’t the best bracelet that I have ever seen. However the thought behind it was wonderful and meant a lot to me. Here was someone who had taken the time effort and trouble to think about, make and give me something.

‘ » Read more: Feedback; It’s a gift, you choose what to do with it…….

In times of organisational re-structuring attention is quite rightly given to those that are being impacted and who are leaving the business due to redundancy. But beware of forgetting to spend time and effort thinking about the people that will remain in the ‘new organisation’ as well, otherwise it could cost you in the long run.

» Read more: Organisational Change; Looking after those left behind…

I caught up with my friend the other day, the one who told me of the new team leader who had got off to a shaky start with her team (See my previous blogs post: A New Manager). Well, it transpires that this new team leader is also not that understanding when it comes to Performance Management either. It seems that she still has some way to go in her development as a manager!

“Be the change you want to see….”

» Read more: Performance Management – Managers need to be role models

Meetings seem to always be a hot topic of conversation on the web with quite a few comments on Twitter and other platforms about how dire they are etc. All this chatter got me thinking about some of the meetings that I had been in that had been well run and then some of the meetings that had ‘lost there way’ and not been very successful at all. Meetings are expensive and time consuming, yet we don’t often think about how much meetings are actually costing our businesses. How often have you stopped to think about the actual value that your meetings create? Of even if they were actually necessary in the first place. That then led me to start thinking about how we could be Evaluating Meetings from now on?

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» Read more: Evaluating Meetings – Meeting Nightmares!

It is always difficult to tackle negative behaviour in a positive way that corrects the issue without causing resentment and / or damage to the relationship.

The BIFF model is one of the simplest and most effective ways of guiding your approach to the situation that I have come across.

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» Read more: Challenging Negative Behaviour