I got 5 e-mails today:
1 required an immediate response directly from me
1 was junk-mail
1 was a daily group e-mail sent to 20 people
1 was a reply to that daily group e-mail
1 was a request to meet next week
I have a feeling I'm very underutilized at my job.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Friday, June 3, 2011
Don't Forget the Good
One of the other things that stuck out from my Sunday morning meeting was that while writing, I need to not just think about the things I'd change, but about the things that I really like that I observe. My pluses and my deltas as you will.
In my current job, there are 2 particular things I appreciate:
1) Each of our "big team" meetings (which happen 1-2 times a week with up to 20 people) has a start and a finish.
Start:
At the start, everyone stands up and we go around the room one by one to update the group with any immediate, non-agenda item items. We stand to recognize the start of the meeting and also to encourage people to be brief. And we go around to each person to make sure everyone has a chance to speak.
Finish:
To finish the meeting, we again go around the room (this time sitting) and ask each person for a PLUS from the days meeting. What went well? What did you appreciate? People thank others for something they brought up or put together, some thank others for attending, some commend someone who did something great outside of the meeting.
Next, we go around again and say any DELTAS that we have. A delta is not the opposite of a plus. It is not a negative. It's a change. What would you like to change for the next meeting? Is there something that bothers you? What does the team need to think about? People mention that they apologize for being late, that they have suggestions for running the meeting differently, or that people need to follow the ground rules (such as staying on track, respecting the data, etc.)
and...
2) We do these training programs and have sessions about every 2 weeks. And they're catered. By Jacks. This ain't no TC potluck (no offense fellow potluckers). It is amazing, gourmet food. AND, even though I have nothing to do with these trainings, I still get to eat the food. And it makes me very, very happy. (Today was a Jacks day).
In my current job, there are 2 particular things I appreciate:
1) Each of our "big team" meetings (which happen 1-2 times a week with up to 20 people) has a start and a finish.
Start:
At the start, everyone stands up and we go around the room one by one to update the group with any immediate, non-agenda item items. We stand to recognize the start of the meeting and also to encourage people to be brief. And we go around to each person to make sure everyone has a chance to speak.
Finish:
To finish the meeting, we again go around the room (this time sitting) and ask each person for a PLUS from the days meeting. What went well? What did you appreciate? People thank others for something they brought up or put together, some thank others for attending, some commend someone who did something great outside of the meeting.
Next, we go around again and say any DELTAS that we have. A delta is not the opposite of a plus. It is not a negative. It's a change. What would you like to change for the next meeting? Is there something that bothers you? What does the team need to think about? People mention that they apologize for being late, that they have suggestions for running the meeting differently, or that people need to follow the ground rules (such as staying on track, respecting the data, etc.)
and...
2) We do these training programs and have sessions about every 2 weeks. And they're catered. By Jacks. This ain't no TC potluck (no offense fellow potluckers). It is amazing, gourmet food. AND, even though I have nothing to do with these trainings, I still get to eat the food. And it makes me very, very happy. (Today was a Jacks day).
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Doing the To Do List
So, this is my second post. I met with, what should I call him, an "advisor" last Sunday for some inspiration. I'm going to keep him as a mystery man for now because I think that's kind of cool to have a secret advisor, but I think you'll figure it out soon enough. One of the first questions he asked: "So, you started a new blog and did your first post. Have you posted again?"
No... what if people think it's stupid?
"It doesn't matter. Write for you. It's not about what people think or if they read it. Just get your thoughts down."
(Okay, so these may not all be his exact words, but close enough)
Okay. So here it is. Take it or leave it. No editting unless I mispell editing... and misspell. Heh.
My mystery advisor helped me put down several "to dos" on a list during our conversation. And while doing so he said "The hardest thing about the do list is doing it." Amen.
I have a real hard time turning off the TV, getting off facebook, and getting out of bed to just get up and do things. I'd rather spend time looking up new titles than actually reading a book, or finding patterns rather than sewing a quilt, or writing a blog about doing things rather than doing them. I know I'm not the only one in this boat.
But tonight I am going to do that last one anyway. I'm going to make a page entirely dedicated to my to do list. I also want to put things on there that I recently HAVE accomplished, because sometimes I also think I don't give myself enough credit for those things that do get finished, even if they took 3 years to get done.
So check back often for more posts and words of wisdom.
Oh, and check out this site (hmmm... check back, gotta find it) for an awesome way to make a to do list. Really need to dig up some old notebooks. Right after I read this, I immediately made a list for the next week and have been using it all week. And also, I found this notepad from Staples that has lines on it, a place for the date and project name, and a separate column for "tasks" that I just started using during meetings - it's amazingly helpful at separating notes from action items. Must go purchase more if I can still find them. Best part: it was only a buck.
No... what if people think it's stupid?
"It doesn't matter. Write for you. It's not about what people think or if they read it. Just get your thoughts down."
(Okay, so these may not all be his exact words, but close enough)
Okay. So here it is. Take it or leave it. No editting unless I mispell editing... and misspell. Heh.
My mystery advisor helped me put down several "to dos" on a list during our conversation. And while doing so he said "The hardest thing about the do list is doing it." Amen.
I have a real hard time turning off the TV, getting off facebook, and getting out of bed to just get up and do things. I'd rather spend time looking up new titles than actually reading a book, or finding patterns rather than sewing a quilt, or writing a blog about doing things rather than doing them. I know I'm not the only one in this boat.
But tonight I am going to do that last one anyway. I'm going to make a page entirely dedicated to my to do list. I also want to put things on there that I recently HAVE accomplished, because sometimes I also think I don't give myself enough credit for those things that do get finished, even if they took 3 years to get done.
So check back often for more posts and words of wisdom.
Oh, and check out this site (hmmm... check back, gotta find it) for an awesome way to make a to do list. Really need to dig up some old notebooks. Right after I read this, I immediately made a list for the next week and have been using it all week. And also, I found this notepad from Staples that has lines on it, a place for the date and project name, and a separate column for "tasks" that I just started using during meetings - it's amazingly helpful at separating notes from action items. Must go purchase more if I can still find them. Best part: it was only a buck.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Welcome
Tonight I had the genius idea of starting a new blog. I've been thinking a lot lately about what I want to do in life and what I get most passionate about. And when it comes down to it, I love talking business... how to communicate to employees, how to shape behavior, just plain good business. So why not start a blog? Why not share these ideas I have with the world instead of holding them in? Who knows. Maybe this will turn into a book or a gig. At the very least, it will be cathartic.
So without further ado, let's get this thing started. What would I do if I were boss?
The Solution Box
I am a firm believer in two things. #1 Every business (and even person) should have a comment box. And #2 Every comment that is about a problem should be accompanied by a solution.
At the hospital cafeteria there is an a la carte section with chicken fingers, fried mushrooms, onion rings that are placed in identical white bags and placed in a metal divider. However, in order to get what you want, you have to basically thumb through them to figure out which of the items they are currently serving and which divider they've placed them in. Here's a great idea. Put labels on the dividers! But who do I tell? I'm really not one for speaking up, but if there were just a place that I could write the idea down and know that the right person who can make that change would see it, I would be doing so. Nothing frustrates me more than having a suggestion or even a compliment and not knowing what to do with it. A comment box is key to opening up the lines of communication AND allowing staff to make comments anonymously if by chance you happen to (unfortunately) have a culture based on fear and closed doors (which will be a post of its own soon enough). So, If I were boss, I would have a comment box, or better yet, a solution box.
A solution box is one step beyond a comment box. I would let people know that their comment about a problem will be tossed unless at least one solution or next step accompanies it. This is great for employees and staff. Okay, so you think we could do something differently, but what would you like? I would ask employees to tell me what they want to see, not just what they don't want to see. I'm pretty sure this was a key point in the book the No Complaining Rule (which is a good read, but is essentially a short fictional story).
So here it is. My new blog. We'll see how it goes. I hope to have some guest bloggers by some really great people I know who have the same passion. On that note, anyone want to guest blog? What would you do if you were boss? Or, if you are a boss, what are your favorite tips or tricks?
So without further ado, let's get this thing started. What would I do if I were boss?
The Solution Box
I am a firm believer in two things. #1 Every business (and even person) should have a comment box. And #2 Every comment that is about a problem should be accompanied by a solution.
At the hospital cafeteria there is an a la carte section with chicken fingers, fried mushrooms, onion rings that are placed in identical white bags and placed in a metal divider. However, in order to get what you want, you have to basically thumb through them to figure out which of the items they are currently serving and which divider they've placed them in. Here's a great idea. Put labels on the dividers! But who do I tell? I'm really not one for speaking up, but if there were just a place that I could write the idea down and know that the right person who can make that change would see it, I would be doing so. Nothing frustrates me more than having a suggestion or even a compliment and not knowing what to do with it. A comment box is key to opening up the lines of communication AND allowing staff to make comments anonymously if by chance you happen to (unfortunately) have a culture based on fear and closed doors (which will be a post of its own soon enough). So, If I were boss, I would have a comment box, or better yet, a solution box.
A solution box is one step beyond a comment box. I would let people know that their comment about a problem will be tossed unless at least one solution or next step accompanies it. This is great for employees and staff. Okay, so you think we could do something differently, but what would you like? I would ask employees to tell me what they want to see, not just what they don't want to see. I'm pretty sure this was a key point in the book the No Complaining Rule (which is a good read, but is essentially a short fictional story).
So here it is. My new blog. We'll see how it goes. I hope to have some guest bloggers by some really great people I know who have the same passion. On that note, anyone want to guest blog? What would you do if you were boss? Or, if you are a boss, what are your favorite tips or tricks?
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