Breaking my habits, one by one, Week 5
Week 1, check it out here
Week 2 And part 2 is here
The assignment this week is Together Everyone Achieves More
I had a hard time with this lesson. First off, I didn't make time in my calendar to work on the assignment (um, thought I learned this in Lesson 1?) Oh, come on. Changing habits doesn't come easy and they don't change themselves....it is a work in progress. Excuse or not excuse, it's what happened.
But, I did feel that I did have a "win" with my scheduler. I'm noticing that I'm reaching for it quite a bit more, I'm relying on it, that I won't leave the office without it (like I did the first week!) and that I am actually releasing all of the little tasks in my mind ONTO PAPER which is actually reminding me that yes, there is something required of me at that moment. I must stay in my HIGH PAYOFF ACTIVITIES. I have finished more projects and have been more focused.
So, when I actually took the time to sit down and look at the assignment I was really noticing that it strikes home. Team Work. Simple? Right.
Wrong. Putting the right team in place is crucial, fine tuning it, playing to strengths, empowering members...it's a lot of work. But, it's such a wonderful thing when you know that you have an awesome group of people that you work with. That each person is committed, enthused, energized and looking forward to the next step in this process. The reading from the book Improving Performance and Results by Rex C. Houze talks about what actually destroy teams. I was reflecting back on all of the offices that I have worked in and noticed that each one of them has its own "climate"...either good, in between or bad. The in between is stuck between either not knowing what needs to change or simply not caring about it. The bad...well, we all have those memories!
But, when it's good it's awesome!
My coach, Dane Bauerle discussed in class what exactly you need to do to increase the accountability of your team. Assessing the following:
Determining what tasks need to be accomplished, who is responsible for them, what the deadline is, and what needs to change in order for the task to be accomplished. One thing that I caught on was that it mentions everyone needs to be working in harmony with their strengths. It's so important. I can't tell you how many times over the years that I would try and try again to do a task and still be unhappy with my results. I remember the first real time that I delegated this project to someone that I knew had the skills to do so much better than I. Guess what? The project was so far superior to anything that I had produced that it was done in half the time! Again, this is a "letting go" aspect that I am still working on.
Dane reiterated in class that it's so important that your team have the following:
Cooperation, Accountability, Communication & Feedback, Synergy, Relationships, Respect and Positive Energy to be successful.
Think about this for a second. That's a great number of things that have to come together to make a winning team. If one thing is out of balance, all of the juggled balls will fall to the floor. How many times have we experienced this? It's like all of the little pieces that go together to make a piece of machinery work smoothly....or not.
As a Team Leader we need to focus on each team players strength, have a vision and purpose that they also believe in, hold productive meetings, accept diversity, and energize your teammates. We also need to learn to not only to be the leader but, be a good player as well.
Most importantly is to encourage and offer feedback. This way everyone learns.
This lesson reminds me that I probably need to work on building those relationships in my office that are important to me as well as my company.
What will you work on this week?
Serving the needs of Agents, Buyer's and Seller's for over 22 years.
Sheila Moran, Broker/Owner
RE/MAX ACCESS
19115 FM 2252, Ste. 7
Garden Ridge, Texas 78266
210-657-7500 / 210-325-6962
It's time for me to build a team and this post is good for me. Changing ingrained habits will be necessary but beneficial.
Hi Sheila
It sounds like your well on the way to positive change.
Good luck and success.
Lou Ludwig
How right you are on team success it takes everyone working together to succeed as a team. I wish your team success.
Sheila,
Looks like your on the right path by taking a long view of change. In this microwave world, we are impatient for change. But if you're at all like me, it takes diligent action over the long haul to affect change that lasts.
Shelia, it sounds like that you are on the right track, and something that we all should evaluate as to what our goals are! DAC
Sounds like you're habits are changing. I enjoy the read and feel like I have this one nailed. I wonder though what kind of scheduler you're using and why not use a Palm or computer program.
Vickie-you go!
Lou-Thank you!
Pat- you are so right!
Dave-I like the analogy: in a microwave world! so true!
Dennis-I'm trying!
Charles- I used a palm for about 4 years, but with me "outta sight, outta mind" didn't work so well. It was actually at the beginning of this year that I decided to go back to paper, but was using a regular calendar (that you get from the title reps). This program produces their own action planner. Every month a spot to rewrite my goals (so i can see them again and again), every day a spot for my high priority actions steps, phone calls/email, expenses, what my top accomplishments were for the day, what I learned that day, what I'm grateful for and who I encouraged. It also has room for me to write notes and/or ideas as well as a spot for me to write notes of future conversations that I need to have with certain key people on my team. This way I can not only look at my goals and how I hit them, but also the other "wins" that I have for the day, which is essential for those of us that do our own motivation!