  Focus Question: What do you notice about the messy middle? Description We’re officially getting to the middle of the series. A term I love to embrace is that of the Messy Middle. As you step into the mid-point of the year, what do you notice? Are things picking up or are you losing some momentum? In my studies in cognitive psychology years ago at McGill, one of the things I still remember, which has informed my entire career since first hearing 30 years ago is that of the LATENCY and RECENCY effects. Our brains remember the start and end of things. Everything in the middle is “messy”. We may not remember or even know what it is. According to Scott Belsky, author of The Messy Middle, the first part of any journey is called the First Mile. It can be useful to return to this regularly. This will include a focus on:
It’s likely that at this time of year you may find yourself moving through the messy middle. It may be characterized by less traction, lack of focus or a different energy.   Activity What do you notice about the energy and focus of the mid-point of this year? Consider what’s going to help you get traction from the Messy Middle? What’s important to you at this phase? For more on this topic check out: The Monthly Daily Trackers are a great visual tool to view what’s happening in your work and business. What do you notice about the data and trends? There are twelve sets of Monthly Daily Trackers and twelve sets of Monthly Content Trackers in the planner section. 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 are the roles which are going to help this team excel? Description Clarity around roles in a team is critical for team success, especially when team members are working remotely and/or don’t see each other on a regular basis. Clear Roles is another important component of the Six Factors of High Performing Teams. It’s often not an area people tend to explore. Across the team, there may be different roles which each team member is well suited for. Perhaps there are members of the team who are great at:
  Activity Take some time as a team to discuss the different roles which are important for you as a team in getting things done. What are the roles which are going to help the team? Who plays what role? How do the roles match with the talents and skills in the team? Are there any roles that are missing? What are the roles which are going to create new things? Get things done? You will also want to explore WHAT key roles are needed by the team? 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.   Focus Question: What’s important to note about your work right now? Description Every quarter, I’ll be including a pause point to undertake a quarterly checkpoint. In addition to weekly and monthly planning, it can be valuable to spend time doing some quarterly planning. Looking across your goals and achievements over a three-month period, can provide a different perspective.   Activity Earmark 30 – 60 minutes to undertake your Q1 checkpoint. If you prefer to do this in the company of others, consider joining me for a quarterly planning session. Grab a pen and your planner or journal. You may wish to set a timer, giving yourself 3-5 minutes to reflect on and capture your thoughts around each of these questions. Note the following:
Over the last three months ask yourself:
Note your programming and/or services deliver. Ask yourself:
For more on this topic check out: PlanDoTrack – Quarterly Planning Section Remote Pathways New Guide – Quarterly Checkpoint (Day 30) 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 needs to be clearer for the team? Description Regardless, of whether we are face-to-face or working remote, teams are teams are teams. Over the last few decades team effectiveness research continues to validate core elements which teams need in order to thrive. The ingredients come from the research of professionals including: Katzenbach and Smith (The Wisdom of Teams), Hackman and Wageman (A Theory of Team Coaching) and others. Part of great leadership in complexity is about distilling things down to their core. When it comes to teamwork it can be beneficial to get back to the basics. When I work with teams, I like to share with them the following six elements which I call the Six Factors of High Performing Teams. These are six things that teams need in order to excel.   As you step into this week, as a team, take the pulse of where you are on a scale of 1 - 10 the second 3 areas needed for team effectiveness: 4. Shared performance goals What are key goals for the team this year? What are key individual goals? How do your goals align? Overlap? What does success look like for each member? For the entire team? Does everyone have an understanding of the key goals of others on the team and how they feed into them? 5. Shared team practices Teams that work together effectively share common practices such as a Monday morning huddle, a Thursday night out or some other regular event. What practices support your relationships? 6. Clear Roles How do our roles overlap, align and connect? What changes, if any, are needed this year around your roles giving your priorities?  Activity Where are we in each of the Six Factors? What requires attention? For more on this topic check out: Teams365 Team Leader Breakfast Café Call on the Six Factors. 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 else is required to help the team excel? Description Regardless, of whether we are face-to-face or working remote, teams are teams are teams. Over the last few decades team effectiveness research continues to validate core elements which teams need in order to thrive. The ingredients come from the research of professionals including: Katzenbach and Smith (The Wisdom of Teams), Hackman and Wageman (A Theory of Team Coaching) and others. Part of great leadership in complexity is about distilling things down to their core. When it comes to teamwork it can be beneficial to get back to the basics. When I work with teams, I like to share with them the following six elements which I call the Six Factors of High Performing Teams. These are six things that teams need in order to excel.   As you step into this week, as a team, take the pulse of where you are on a scale of 1 - 10 the first 3 areas needed for team effectiveness: 1. Shared purpose or mission (Your WHY) What is your purpose? Your mission? Why do you exist? Does everyone hold the same understanding? What does this mean practically for your work? What priorities does your purpose or mission naturally create? 2. Shared behavioral norms How do you do things? What is acceptable and unacceptable on the team? What behaviors and habits exist? Which ones are supportive of exceptional performance? Which ones aren't? 3. Shared commitment What are team members committed to? What will you get done, no matter what? Is there anything that needs to be dropped off the list?  Activity Where are we in each of the Six Factors? What requires attention? For more on this topic check out: Teams365 #1145 – Team Leader Breakfast Series – Six Factors (Audio) Teams365 #1920- Team Development – Revisiting the Six Factors Enjoy your reflections! 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
December 2020
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