We spend so much time with our team mates. We work with them under intense pressure, make important decisions, and strategically plan for the future. But, we don’t always know what make them tick. This creates misunderstandings, slows down communication and eats away at trust.
As a leader, do you know:
What motivates each of your team members?
What they need in order to be their best?
What they truly love to do and contribute?
What you can count on them to deliver on?
What their strengths are?
When a leader can confidently answer each of these questions about the individuals on the team, the team will move from ordinary towards extraordinary.
When all team members can answer these questions about each other, the team absolutely moves from being ordinary to extraordinary.
The team becomes a highly functioning team filled with trust, high levels of collaboration and productivity. And, people are more likely to take risks, innovate and support each other.
I use these four sentences to prompt team members to describe themselves to create their “Personal Operating Manual”:
You get the best of me when …
You get the worst of me when …
You can count on me to …
This is what I need from you …
Individuals complete their Personal Operating Manual in writing. Each person reads their points to the entire team. Team mates are free to ask clarifying questions.
The best of people are no longer shrouded in mystery!