Returning to a new “normal”
Your organization is probably thinking about returning to the office, using a hybrid approach, or perhaps working from home permanently – all of these bring opportunities to think about new and better ways of working.
The 60-30-10 rule for effective teamwork, discovered by researcher J. Richard Hackman, states the following about a team’s success:
60% depends on prework, or activities before the actual work,
30% can be linked to the initial launch (or relaunch) of the team, and
Only 10% is dependent on the day-to-day teamwork
Anytime there is a major change to the team: new location, major project, new team members, I encourage you to hold a brief 60-90 minute launch session with the team. It can even be spread out over two sessions. But it’s critical that every single team member is present.
Using the image of a funnel - starting wide, then narrowing down, include at a minimum in your agenda:
VISION: Everyone must be crystal clear where the team is headed. Discuss where the team fits in with the broader company vision and the team shared goals.
ROLES: Everyone needs to have a shared understanding of how each person fits in and a frank discussion of potential obstacles.
RESOURCES: What resources are needed? (information, budget, people, etc.)
NORMS: How will team members interact? What are the communication expectations, such as responses to emails in ”X” hours, process for raising issues, what mistakes are acceptable, what mistakes are unacceptable, etc.
Use the (re)launch as an opportunity to get people excited, build trust, and bring focus back to the team’s goals.
For more ideas, please join me on April 23 for Coffee and Conversation: Make Work More Human, to explore what it takes to be a human-centered organization. We’ll talk about behaviors and practices that are going well in your organization, and things that you’d like to see changed.
I invite you to take HuWork’s Human Factor Assessment ahead of time to highlight the areas where your company is shining and think about changes to consider putting in place – whether you are working as a people manager, an individual contributor, or influencing change as an HR leader or consultant.
To join this virtual conversation on Friday, April 23 at 12pm MDT, please click here to register. I will email the Zoom link the day before the event.
Warmly,
Bijal
The intent of these emails is to provide different perspectives, ideas, and insights as you navigate the path forward for yourself, your team, your organization, and your family.
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Bijal Choksi, MA, CHPC, ACC