Over the last two weeks, we’ve discussed meetings that run the business and improve the business. Today, let’s examine the third category: meetings that build the team. Before we do, I’d like to share a story. One summer morning at 2:00 AM, our team received an email that would turn into one of the largest technology incidents the world had ever experienced. Nearly every server and computer at our organization and others throughout the world would not power on. As people woke up, they began...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Meetings That Improve the Business Several years ago, our team was dealing with a frustrating login issue. About one person each week would be affected, and the disruption typically lasted only a few minutes. The team responsible for resolving the issue was actively working with the vendor. We held problem-solving sessions, investigated possible causes, and provided daily updates through email and Teams messages. The work was being done. People were understandably frustrated and wanted the...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
"Why are so many people in this meeting?" I remember asking myself that question after attending a 90-minute committee meeting early in my career. Before that role, I had worked with an organization that was intentionally reducing the number of meetings employees attended. Meetings became shorter. Agendas became clearer. When a topic required deeper discussion, only the people who were directly involved met afterward. At the time, I assumed that was normal. Then I joined another organization...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Organizations often miss out on ROI because they struggle with using technology. Not because of lack of availability or training, but because of lack of adoption processes. One of the most effective ways we’ve seen organizations enhance adoption and increase technology usage and ROI is by building a Systems, Automation, and Technology (SAT) Committee. What is a SAT Committee? A SAT Committee is a cross-functional group made up of: Power users (the people who live in and are experts with your...
2 months ago • 1 min read
The last couple of weeks we have talked about pull systems and how to set them up in Microsoft Planner. This week, let’s discuss how to decide what work needs to be done next. When deciding what to work on next as a team, it’s important to assess strategic alignment, business value and return on investment, technical feasibility, resource availability, risk profile, stakeholder support, timeline/urgency, and regulatory and compliance areas. One can do this by considering the following...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Last week, we talked about how using a pull system helped us get more work done. This week, we’re making that idea tangible by showing you how to build a simple Kanban board in Microsoft Planner, a tool you likely already have if you subscribe to Microsoft 365. 1. Open Microsoft Planner Sign in to Microsoft 365 (https://www.office.com). Select the App Launcher (grid or waffle icon in top left) in the top-left corner. Click Planner (it might be under More Apps > All Apps) 2. Create a New Plan...
3 months ago • 1 min read
Do you or your team ever feel like you have too many projects going simultaneously to ever finish any of them? This was a constant struggle for me at one time, until I learned about pull systems, a different way of managing work than the traditional “take orders and start everything” approach. In a pull system, constraints are set for a maximum number of works in progress (WIP), like projects. When one project finishes, a team or person is free to pull another from a backlog and start on it,...
3 months ago • 2 min read
Last week, we explored the key questions leaders should ask before moving forward with a change. Today, we’ll look at the different types of team members you’ll encounter during a change and how each one impacts adoption and momentum. Understanding these dynamics can make the difference between a stalled initiative and a successful transformation. So, let’s dive in. After leading numerous change initiatives across organizations of all sizes, I’ve found that people consistently fall into four...
3 months ago • 1 min read
The way we work is constantly evolving, through new processes, advancing technology, and new products and services. The organizations that succeed are the ones who manage change effectively to drive positive outcomes. Effective change management is more than a leader announcing a change and expecting everyone to get on board. Before a change takes place, leaders must evaluate the change to ensure it’s got the potential to make a real, positive impact. One practical way to do this is by...
4 months ago • 1 min read