I was forced into a break of sorts last week when my turn for jury duty came up. Knowing I’d be in for a wait in the jury lounge, I took along several work related things to do – articles to read, forms to fill out, supply catalogs to review, and the like. The biggest accomplishment during that time, however, was simply taking out a pen and a clean sheet of paper and answering the following questions:
What aspects of my work do I really love doing?
What things are currently in place to support that?
What plans are in the works that will support it in the future?
What does doing only what I love to do, all the time, look like?
Is anything holding me back?
What action steps can I take immediately to make this happen?
The change in environment allowed me to clear my head, take a deep breath and write from a bigger-picture perspective. That’s all it took! Getting out of my office, away from my normal routine, and into a quiet place with few distractions. Next time you’re wrestling with any issue, such as workplace discontent, do this. Go to the park, sit in your car, take a walk, sit in a waiting room. Get outside of your life with all its busy-ness, take out your pen and paper, and just breathe. Amazing possibilities and solutions will come to you!
Oh yes…I did get called to serve on a jury, albeit as an alternate. Talk about getting your mind off of your own stuff and onto something else! A good experience on several fronts.
Please post your comments about the restorative nature of taking a break from work! Visit my website at www.LousbergUnlimited.com for more information on services for managing or transitioning your career.
Monday, June 25, 2007
Monday, June 18, 2007
June Book of the Month - 5 Dysfunctions
This month: Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni. The author presents his theory on common team issues by relaying a “leadership fable”, a story about a fictional new CEO and her experience of leading an existing, poorly functioning team down the path to rebuilding itself into a powerful productive one. Woven into the story is his model of the 5 Dysfunctions, an explanation of each and how it plays out in a group. Especially valuable are his suggestions and exercises for overcoming each one.
A brief overview of the 5 Dysfunctions:
1. Absence of Trust – Trust lies at the heart of a functioning cohesive team. Team members must get comfortable with being vulnerable with each other – admitting their weaknesses and mistakes, asking for help.
2. Fear of Conflict – Productive conflict, at home and business, is required in order to grow. The purpose of healthy conflict, that of focusing only on concepts and ideas, is to produce the best possible solution in the shortest period of time.
3. Lack of Commitment – Great teams move forward with complete buy-in from every member, even when some have voted against the decision. They are aligned around a common objective and move forward without hesitation.
4. Avoidance of Accountability – This refers to the willingness of team members to call their peers on performance or behaviors that might hurt the team. The most effective and efficient means of maintaining high standards of performance is peer pressure.
5. Inattention to Results – The collective goals of the group and the unrelenting focus on specific objectives and clearly defined outcomes is required for any team judged on performance. They minimize individualistic behavior and avoid distractions.
Lencioni’s view is that, in this age of fast and ever-present change, “teamwork remains the one sustainable competitive advantage that has been largely untapped.” He goes on to say that while the impact of teamwork is difficult to measure and achieve, “its power cannot be denied”. The advantages of effective teamwork? When people set aside their own needs and come together for the good of the whole, what was thought impossible can be accomplished. They get more done in less time and with less cost. And ultimately, people find fulfillment in their work. A sense of belonging and connection gained from being part of an effective work team can far extend outside the walls of work.
We’ve all had the experience of working on teams of some sort. How many times did you come away feeling energized and excited about working together for some greater good? Like me, perhaps not as many times as you’d like. Here’s a great book with tools and suggestions to implement with your next team to make it a rewarding, effective experience.
Have a great week!
My employee training services include the facilitation of workshops for teams based on this book. If your organization would like to know more about creating powerful effective work teams, please let me know. Visit my website at www.LousbergUnlimited.com
A brief overview of the 5 Dysfunctions:
1. Absence of Trust – Trust lies at the heart of a functioning cohesive team. Team members must get comfortable with being vulnerable with each other – admitting their weaknesses and mistakes, asking for help.
2. Fear of Conflict – Productive conflict, at home and business, is required in order to grow. The purpose of healthy conflict, that of focusing only on concepts and ideas, is to produce the best possible solution in the shortest period of time.
3. Lack of Commitment – Great teams move forward with complete buy-in from every member, even when some have voted against the decision. They are aligned around a common objective and move forward without hesitation.
4. Avoidance of Accountability – This refers to the willingness of team members to call their peers on performance or behaviors that might hurt the team. The most effective and efficient means of maintaining high standards of performance is peer pressure.
5. Inattention to Results – The collective goals of the group and the unrelenting focus on specific objectives and clearly defined outcomes is required for any team judged on performance. They minimize individualistic behavior and avoid distractions.
Lencioni’s view is that, in this age of fast and ever-present change, “teamwork remains the one sustainable competitive advantage that has been largely untapped.” He goes on to say that while the impact of teamwork is difficult to measure and achieve, “its power cannot be denied”. The advantages of effective teamwork? When people set aside their own needs and come together for the good of the whole, what was thought impossible can be accomplished. They get more done in less time and with less cost. And ultimately, people find fulfillment in their work. A sense of belonging and connection gained from being part of an effective work team can far extend outside the walls of work.
We’ve all had the experience of working on teams of some sort. How many times did you come away feeling energized and excited about working together for some greater good? Like me, perhaps not as many times as you’d like. Here’s a great book with tools and suggestions to implement with your next team to make it a rewarding, effective experience.
Have a great week!
My employee training services include the facilitation of workshops for teams based on this book. If your organization would like to know more about creating powerful effective work teams, please let me know. Visit my website at www.LousbergUnlimited.com
Friday, June 15, 2007
Vacation Planning for your Worklife!
Ahh, summertime – time to get away on a vacation for relaxation and fun in the sun! Well, not for everyone. Studies in recent years by Expedia.com and Management Recruiters International estimate that vacation time has shrunk from an average of more than 7 days (25 years ago) to only 4 days in 2005. Thirty percent of employed adults gave up vacation time they had earned, resulting in a total of 415 million unused vacation days in 2004, according to a survey by Harris Interactive. The reason? According to managers and executives surveyed, over 50% say it’s due to job pressures – they just have too much work to do.
If you find yourself relating closely to these findings, here are some helpful tips for preparing for your much needed vacation:
Set priorities. 3 or 4 weeks before your vacation is to start, determine what tasks or projects must absolutely be complete before you leave and what can wait. Reprioritizing every few days as you get closer can really help you clarify what’s urgent or not.
Give advance notice – verbally, to colleagues, co-workers, customers, and so on, so they have it in mind and can respond accordingly. Remind them again a few days out for any last minute questions or activities.
Leave a paper and email trail. Be organized and have projects streamlined and documented so others can figure out next steps and who to call while you’re away.
Decide who should have your vacation contact info. This person should know to call you only in dire emergencies.
Have someone check your email and voicemail. Even if you have “out of office” notices on both, important messages may sneak through. If possible, this person can help weed out your “junk” email too.
Prepare for your return. Before leaving, schedule meetings or calls with people who can fill you in on what happened in your absence. Leave plenty of open space in your calendar for catching up on emails and voicemails, as they are inevitable. Let voicemail take your calls while you ease yourself back into your workplace. Don’t let that vacation state of mind slip away too easily!
By putting these suggestions into action, there should be no reason to check email or voicemail or even think about work while you’re on vacation. Enjoy the time away, clear your mind, and know that it will still be there when you get back!
Please submit your best vacation planning tools by posting your comments now!
If you find yourself relating closely to these findings, here are some helpful tips for preparing for your much needed vacation:
Set priorities. 3 or 4 weeks before your vacation is to start, determine what tasks or projects must absolutely be complete before you leave and what can wait. Reprioritizing every few days as you get closer can really help you clarify what’s urgent or not.
Give advance notice – verbally, to colleagues, co-workers, customers, and so on, so they have it in mind and can respond accordingly. Remind them again a few days out for any last minute questions or activities.
Leave a paper and email trail. Be organized and have projects streamlined and documented so others can figure out next steps and who to call while you’re away.
Decide who should have your vacation contact info. This person should know to call you only in dire emergencies.
Have someone check your email and voicemail. Even if you have “out of office” notices on both, important messages may sneak through. If possible, this person can help weed out your “junk” email too.
Prepare for your return. Before leaving, schedule meetings or calls with people who can fill you in on what happened in your absence. Leave plenty of open space in your calendar for catching up on emails and voicemails, as they are inevitable. Let voicemail take your calls while you ease yourself back into your workplace. Don’t let that vacation state of mind slip away too easily!
By putting these suggestions into action, there should be no reason to check email or voicemail or even think about work while you’re on vacation. Enjoy the time away, clear your mind, and know that it will still be there when you get back!
Please submit your best vacation planning tools by posting your comments now!
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