Most people manage their calendar by time. Very few manage it by energy and that’s a missed opportunity. Your calendar more than a tool to tell you want to do next, it’s also a record of meetings and tasks that can be used as a map to determine what fuels you and quietly drains you. That’s where the weekly calendar energy audit comes in. At the end of each week, look back at your calendar and answer one simple question about each item on it: Did this give me energy or take it away? Every...
14 days ago • 1 min read
Team issues are often caused by a lack of understanding. We often assume others know how we work, how to help us succeed, and if they don’t, they just figure it out over time. Team member user manuals can help with this though! A team member user manual is a short, personal guide that explains how to work well with someone. Think of it as the user manual for a human being. A user manual answers these questions about each team member: How does this person do their best work? What do they need...
21 days ago • 1 min read
Over the last several weeks, we have built a team playbook and scorecard piece by piece. Now we come to the section that is often written first but should often be written last… team values. Most teams start with values, but healthy teams discover them. If you’ve been using weekly scorecards, you already have the raw data you need. Values show up in what gets: Protected Confronted Praised Repaired Values only matter if they describe real, observable behavior. They’re not wishes or slogans....
28 days ago • 1 min read
At this point in the series, you’ve built a solid framework for a team playbook. You know: Why the team exists What matters most right now Who owns what How the team works best together Now comes the question every leader eventually faces… how do we make sure this actually shows up in week-to-week work? That’s where weekly team scorecards come in. A weekly scorecard is a tool for sharing the realities of work and how to progress. It can be as simple as a spreadsheet. There are rows for: The...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Over the last few weeks, we’ve built the framework for a team playbook. This week, we finish the foundation by answering two questions every healthy team needs to know: Who does what? Who are we as a team? Section 1: Who Does What (and Where it Matters Most) This part of the playbook is simple but powerful. In its simplest form, it’s simply a table that lists the team member’s name, their title or role, and their high level duties as they relate to: The team’s main goal The define objectives...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
Last week we talked about clarity in the team playbook and stating why your team exists, how it behaves, what it does, and how it succeeds. This week, we will discuss focus, because without focus, your team might still be confused. Continuing where we left off last week, let’s discuss the following sections of your team playbook and how to create them: Start with the Main Goal Every team needs a most important thing. This isn’t a wish list, multiple priorities, or a list of work to do. It’s...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Last week, we talked about what a team playbook is and why every healthy team needs one. This week, let’s talk about building the first few sections of your team playbook, starting with clarity. Patrick Lencioni says healthy organizations are clear about who they are, what they do, and how they succeed, and repeat it constantly, making the message stick with everyone who hears it. Your team playbook should start with these same statements. Why the Team Exists This is your team’s purpose (not...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Teams often struggle because their people aren’t on the same page. That’s where a team playbook comes in. A team playbook is a short, practical document that answers the most important questions about how a team works and creates clarity for everyone. Patrick Lencioni, in The Advantage (affiliate link), argues that the biggest competitive advantage isn’t strategy or talent. It’s organizational health. And health starts with eliminating confusion. A good team playbook does that. At its core, a...
2 months ago • 1 min read
If you’ve been looking for a way to gather information, standardize processes, or get quick feedback, Microsoft Forms (or any other form application) is worth a look. It’s one of the simplest tools included in Microsoft 365 subscriptions and can help solve more problems than expected. Below are five practical, real-world use cases you can implement in Microsoft Forms, or any other form application, along with some tips. Quick Feedback After Meetings, Workshops, or Events Everyone needs...
2 months ago • 1 min read