For many organizations the first quarter results are now in...a perfect time to assess your progress and, if needed, course correct as a team.
When so much is uncertain, as a leader, you can have a powerful and positive impact on your team's "Collaborative Execution" by taking these three easy steps:
Purpose. "If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea." (Antoine de Saint-Exupery). People want to work for a greater purpose than just a paycheck. Great leaders help them to discover it.
Clear Measures of Success. Is every member of the team absolutely clear on how you are defining success and measuring it? You know it's clear if you can raise a toast when you achieve it. Adjust your targets to reflect reality. Ensure your strategic/operational plan is a living document, not gathering dust as SPOTS (Strategic Plans on Top Shelves.)
Individual Contributions. Help each of your team members see the impact of their work. Draw a clear line of sight between what they are doing on a daily basis and how this impacts the team and the broader organization. When facilitating a team effectiveness and planning session, I often have each person on the team write on a flip chart page how they contribute to the team's success. At the bottom of that page they add which team members they are counting on for their success and why. This is a simple exercise - and yet serves as a powerful foundation for "Collaborative Execution".
