Focus Question: What can you do to avoid the pitfalls of matrix teams? Description Conflict may also be more prevalent. Think about these different conflicts which are present in matrix relationships. (Mentioned first in Teams365 #601: https://www.potentialsrealized.com/teams-365-blog/teams365-601-potential-sources-of-conflict-in-matrix-teams) Here's a list of potential sources of conflict in matrix teams include:
Activity Consider the matrix relationships you are part of. What are the pitfalls you might encounter? The conflicts which might exist? What can you do to create an antidote around them? For more on this topic check out: Teams365 blog posts on this topic over at Potentials Realized.com. Including:
All the best, Jennifer Jennifer Britton
Co-host of the Remote Pathways Podcast Potentials Realized – Coaching, Training and Consulting Services for remote teams, leaders and professionals Check out the most recent Remote Pathways Podcast Episode, where we explore the people, places and processes of exceptional remote work. You can listen to the latest episode here, or on your favorite podcast player.
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Focus Question: What matrix teams are you part of? What makes it work? Description Four Keys for Making the Matrix Work: 1. Create Shared Expectations. Given that your staff member will be managed by two or more sets of people, creating shared expectations among the three (or more) of you is key. Who do you report to on what? What does success look like to all the parties involved? What are everyone's various expectations and priorities? How do these align? Conflict? 2. Clarity. Clarity around roles and responsibilities, reporting relationships, goals and who does what is key in successful matrix management. Taking time to be extremely clear is key to success. Having a plan and process in place to address lack of clarity issues can also be important. 3. Checking assumptions. Given that matrix management relationships often occur at a distance, it is important to check the various assumptions. Assumptions about priorities, flow, pace, quality may be a starting point for discussion on a regular basis. 4. Frequent touch points and adjustments. Regular and frequent touch points amongst the three parties can be very useful, along with an understanding that regular adjustments will need to be made. In my former world of work, I usually tried to aim for quarterly or semi-annual three-way meetings (both supervisors and employee). While this took some planning time, it was often identified as a critical success factor. Originally published as https://www.potentialsrealized.com/teams-365-blog/teams365-594-matrix-management-4-keys-to-making-it-work) Who do you have in your relationship web? Activity Note the conversations you want to have with those you are in matrix relationships with. When are you meeting as a group of three? What are the things you want to have discussion around? For more on this topic check out: Teams365 blog posts on this topic over at Potentials Realized.com Including:
All the best, Jennifer Jennifer Britton
Co-host of the Remote Pathways Podcast Potentials Realized – Coaching, Training and Consulting Services for remote teams, leaders and professionals Check out the most recent Remote Pathways Podcast Episode, where we explore the people, places and processes of exceptional remote work. You can listen to the latest episode here, or on your favorite podcast player. Focus Question: What are the key relationships you need to develop? Description Earlier this year I did a series of calls entitled “No Person Is An Island”. If you pick up my 2017 book, Effective Virtual Conversations, you’ll see me use that term a number of times. Business success is often linked to our relationships. And the saying “no person is an island” reflects that we operate in connection with others, even if we feel isolated as a remote worker. If we are part of a team, it’s likely that we have a boss, peers, and even those we manage. We also may need to interface with both internal and external stakeholders on a regular basis. Questions to consider:
Activity For each key relationship, work through the questions listed here. For more on this topic check out: Check out the Top 20 Activities in PlanDoTrack, as well as the Relationship Mapping Exercise. Enjoy! Jennifer Jennifer Britton
Co-host of the Remote Pathways Podcast Potentials Realized – Coaching, Training and Consulting Services for remote teams, leaders and professionals Check out the most recent Remote Pathways Podcast Episode, where we explore the people, places and processes of exceptional remote work. You can listen to the latest episode here, or on your favorite podcast player. Focus Question: What’s going to make your meetings more productive? Description In the remote space we may find ourselves buffeted by meetings at all times of the day. Are they the most effective? Get into the practice of asking yourselves the 8 Essential Meeting Questions in advance of each meeting. Meetings may consume upwards of 40% of managers’ days and they are needed, especially in the remote space. What can we do to make sure they are effective? For many years now I’ve been sharing these five tips with those leaders, team members and facilitators I work with, who are looking to amp up their meeting muscles. These were originally published in Teams365 #960. Read it here. Five quick tips for making meetings more effective include: 1. Be clear on the purpose of the meeting. Is a meeting the best way to handle this? 2. Be clear on who needs to be at the table. Does everyone need to be there for the full meeting? Who might be needed in order to provide information? Decisions? Authority? Make sure you know who will need to be there or else it may mean another meeting. Having everyone there all the time may actually slow the meeting down. At this point, you will want to start considering who needs to be there, when. 3. What is the outcome you desire? What are the 3-5 tangible takeaways you want from the meeting? This question will help to reinforce what the purpose is, and who really should be at the table. 4. What decisions have been made? What outcomes are expected, and what are the timelines? Who is responsible for doing this? Tracking it? Reporting on it? What will follow up look like? Being granular in this stage is key to success. Many times, it is glossed over. Be sure to leave sufficient time to summarize key decisions made, and implications of this. 5. Keep to time. Time management is an art form with effective meetings. Being too lax with time can lead to frustration and disengagement. If timing tends to fall off, assign someone a timekeeper role, and put your stronger facilitator in the chair seat to keep the meeting moving. Tangents don't always benefit meetings. The cost of NOT undertaking meetings is high. What’s the right balance for your team in terms of sharing information and also making them most efficient? For more on this topic check out: Effective Virtual Conversations Chapter 9 – In Focus: Virtual Meetings of All Stripes Best wishes, Jennifer Jennifer Britton
Co-host of the Remote Pathways Podcast Potentials Realized – Coaching, Training and Consulting Services for remote teams, leaders and professionals Check out the most recent Remote Pathways Podcast Episode, where we explore the people, places and processes of exceptional remote work. You can listen to the latest episode here, or on your favorite podcast player. |
AuthorThe Remote Pathways blog follows many of the themes we explore in the Remote Pathways Podcast. This year (2020) we're proud to bring you a 52 week-series for you to follow along throughout the year. Posts are penned by co-host Jennifer Britton, an avid award-winning blogger for many years. Jennifer is the author of five books. Visit her author page on Amazon. Archives
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