A Few Notes From Cheryl

Happy New Year!  I love this time of year – it’s the “official” time of new beginnings and new possibilities (although….technically, each moment is a new possibility!).

New Coaching Group Starting Soon:

New Coaching Group Starting Soon: For those of you who have asked about receiving community support to achieve your intentions these next few months, be sure to review the “Achieve Your Goals Success Group” information below or on our website.

Hope you have a happy, healthy and abundant year in all ways!

Warmest regards,

Cheryl

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Feature Article: What Will Your Team Be Accountable For This Year?

It’s the beginning of a new year and an exciting time for your team! Did you know that teams that are high performing have several characteristics in common? We’ll explore some of them below. This is a great time to explore a few questions about your team, so you can see how your team can become even more effective than they were last year. Let’s look at some of these key questions, one by one.

Where is your team headed – what are the strategic initiatives for which they are responsible this year?

High-performing teams have clear strategic direction and specific goals that line up with their organization’s mission, vision and values. These initiatives and goals are also intentional because they fit with the organization’s “big picture.” In high-performing teams, team members actually participate in the creation of the vision and initiatives/goals for their team. If this level of participation is not possible, the team’s strategic initiatives and goals must be clearly communicated to team members and it’s important that they have an opportunity to provide feedback before the initiatives are solidified – this is important for team commitment and accountability.

I believe it is also important to bring your team’s intentions into this process. What are their dreams, hopes and ideas for what is possible this coming year? What is the vision they are holding for your team this year? These are all places to explore with your team by asking these questions and making time for your team to explore and brainstorm – allow your team to benefit from utilizing their creativity, rather than just logic or traditional goal setting.

How will your team know when they are successful?

Once your team clarifies its intentions, goals and initiatives, it’s important to give your team the gift of celebration opportunities! How is this done? By setting milestones along the way so that your team will know when they’ve been successful and so they can celebrate their progress. This is done very explicitly by project teams that we work with, but even teams who are not using project management methodology can do this. Make your team’s intentions/goals very specific and measurable, including setting specific dates and actions required along the path to achievement. That way, they will know when they’ve been successful. Be sure to celebrate those “wins” along the way, as this builds team momentum and camaraderie quickly (more characteristics of high-performing teams)!

How will your team be held accountable?

Once your team has determined and prioritized their specific strategic initiatives and goals, and you’ve determined the milestones along the way that will let your team know if they are on track for success, it’s important to get specific about accountability. For example, many teams we work with have monthly check ins, where I meet with the team and ask them very specific questions, such as: What’s working and what’s not working with your team agreements? How much progress have you made on each action item you agreed to in our last session? If you’re running into obstacles or getting stuck, what do you need to get “unstuck” so that you can be successful moving forward?

By checking in regularly and frequently with your team, they will be held accountable to their commitments. Remember to do this in a supportive way – the intention is to help your team celebrate successes and get the support they need if they are running into obstacles on their initiatives, not to punish or make the team “wrong” for not doing what they committed to. High-performing teams have high levels of accountability, so help your team move to the next level by setting this accountability in place right from the start!

Are we talking about goal setting for results (productivity), or also team members’ interactions (positivity)?

All of the above suggestions are related to both productivity (achieving results) as well as positivity (your team members’ relationships with each other). High-performing teams demonstrate skills in both productivity and positivity. In order for teams to be high performing in a long term, sustainable way, they must be able to consistently deliver results as well as have very effective working relationships with each other.

This means that it is important to ensure your team’s initiatives for the coming year include success in both of these areas. Be sure that your team has created initiatives that focus on not only getting specific results through their goals, but that they have created a plan to improve their team relationships. If you want to learn more about productivity vs. positivity, you’re welcome to visit our Team Training page.

As you work through this process with your team, remember to have fun! Having fun leads to increased morale and camaraderie, which are key elements of successful teams!

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Upcoming Workshops

 

Riding the Waves of Change for Project Management Professionals

Date:  Monday, January 28, 2008
Time:  5:30 to 8:30 pm
Sponsored by:  Project Management Institute (PMI) - Silicon Valley Chapter
Fee:  $28 for PMI members or $33 for non-PMI members
Advance Registration is Required

Location: Michaels at Shoreline: 2960 No. Shoreline Blvd - Mountain View, CA

Are you ready to be proactive instead of reactive to the ever-changing project management environment? This interactive and experiential seminar uses a surfing / “riding the waves of change” theme to help you enhance your professional and leadership development.

More information and to register

 

Achieve Your Goals Coaching Group

January 28 to April 21, 2008 (Registration deadline is January 18)

Are you ready to set your intentions and desired outcomes for 2008? Would you like support and encouragement from a small group (4 to 6 participants) to create what is MOST important to you this year?

Many professionals have expressed a desire for support and mentoring, as most work environments do not provide this level of professional development. This group coaching program is designed for women and men in management/leadership positions who want to receive support and mentoring on both professional and personal goals. Registration is first come, first served.

More information and to register

 

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Team Building Events and Off-Site Meetings:

Could your team use some help to be more cohesive?
Is it time to enhance your team's relationships and productivity?

Some teams know that something isn't working, but they don't know exactly what that is or how to improve it. Some organizations hold team building seminars and employee retreats because they know it's time to enhance their teams' productivity and relationships. Do either of those statements describe you/your team? If so, and if you haven't already contacted us to discuss your needs, feel free to give us a call to see if we can help you.

We offer a variety of programs to enhance the performance of your teams as well as improve the ways in which your teams interact.  This is a great way to show appreciation for your team and enhance their productivity, thereby improving the bottom line for your organization!

Find Out More!

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About Goals InSight, Inc.

Goals InSight, Inc. helps organizations achieve their desired results in the following ways - click on any of the links for details:

• Team / Department Coaching to help your team achieve its goals with focus and accountability
  
  
• Team Development Seminars / Diagnostic Assessment to measure the productivity and positivity of your team and help your team improve these factors to yield their desired results
  
  
• Strategic Program / Meeting Facilitation to increase the effectiveness and value of your meetings
  
  
• Seminars / Workshops to help your group learn new tools, practice new skills and start taking action
  
  
• Audio CD / Workbooks to create what you most desire using self study, step-by-step guides

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