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Tag: #business lessons
Teams Vs. Committees: Which Boosts Productivity More?
Instead of taking action, do you spend too much time in committee meetings talking about taking action rather than taking it? This article provides insight into Teams VS. Committees: Which Boosts Productivity More?
Great leaders watch their timespend, sticking to a strict diet, low on committee meetings and high on team meetings and taking action.
Committee Meetings are necessary as a part of regular communication. Attending more committee meetings, results in getting less actual work done. Being trapped in the committee square dance, exiting one committee meeting and entering the next, decreases effectiveness. So, Teams Vs. Committees: Which Boosts Productivity More?
A team is not a committee and A committee is not a team.
Committees exist to exist and monitor while teams exist to accomplish, consequently, I advocate for teams to avoid committees. Feeling overcommitteed, I met with every committee leader and explained I supported their committee, but I would only participate on issues directly related to my team. I continued to collaborate and communicate in the normal course of my work but I was committee free!
Ineffective committees can act as the carbohydrates of a business leading to work process sluggishness.
Teams assemble to address a specific issue, focus on movement, progress, results and resolution. Overall, effective teams enjoy a short life span, working together only until the issue is proven solved. Proven solved!
Great Leaders investigate their work area with team members, customers, exploring new technologies, ideating, measuring performance. Staying free of obligatory meetings clog the wheels of progress.
Leaders must prioritize and find the balance between observing operations or attending meetings, Observing operations, understanding customers, improving operations, focuses on the present and future, which teams impact. Committees Traditionally look back. This illustrates Teams Vs. Committees: Which Boosts Productivity More?
Team Vs Committee Approach– Hospital Hand Washing Example
Leapfrog reports only 74% of hospitals met CDC hand washing standards in 2023, an improvement from prior years, however hospital hand washing standards have been in place since the 1980s. Physicians started scrubbing before surgeries to reduce infections in the 1870s. (National Geographic)
Over the past forty years, many hospitals created oversight committees to gather results, measure compliance and recommend steps for improving. Yet hygiene compliance, has remained an issue in many hospitals for over forty years. I am suggesting a different approach.
Creating a team could prove more effective in driving higher compliance, while reducing hospital acquired infections. How? By defining the mission, providing education, maximizing real time observations, recognizing positive performers and addressing non-compliance directly.
Teams reach beyond committees by directly observing and taking actions in real time.
WHAT GREAT LEADERS KNOW
- Maximizing productivity and communication requires a sound strategy.
- Watching their timespend, sticking to a strict diet low on committee meetings and high on team meetings and taking actions.
- Working together only until the issue is proven solved. Effective teams have a short life span.
LINKS
https://whatgretleadersknow.com
https://www.leapfroggroup.org/sites/default/files/Files/leapfrog-HH-report-2024_FINAL.pdf
The Art of Politely Telling
Understanding how the art of politely telling others can significantly enhance your leadership skills.
One of the skills I teach new managers is using Polite Directing when giving work assignments. Many new managers ask their team members- Will you do me a favor and take care of this task? Asking gives the mistaken impression there is a choice to comply or not. Politely Directing supercharges leadership messaging and eliminates confusing directions. The Art of Politely Telling is essential for clear communication.
WRONG Asking Will you do this for me?
RIGHT
What I need you to please do is ___________, Thank you This phrase highlights The Art of Politely Telling.
The difference seems small, but delivers an IMMENSE improvement. As the leader, I did not need permission to assign reasonable tasks while I did need to treat my team with respect and dignity. Politely directing finds the common ground between courtesy and direction. Without the polite please and thank you, the directing statement alone is harsh.
The key phrase that signals you are giving a direction is What I need you to please do is ________, Thank you. This method is integral to The Art of Politely Telling.
Other phrases like I would like you to please… or It’s time for you to please… are also effective.
Learning the art of politely directing is a light switch moment for new managers. Transitioning to directing from asking, empowers leaders while their team realizes,: this person is leading me with The Art of Politely Telling.
What Great Leaders Know
The Art of Politely Telling.
Directing is not asking if the employee wants to
Politely Telling is an effective method of assigning tasks
The key phrase in Politely Telling is I need you to please
Links
https://whatgreatleadersknow.com
https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/9186-leadership-language.html