24 Sep
PeopleTek Coaching Team

Team Dynamics

Are you working on an initiative that’s highly strategic or just too important to fail? Do those that share responsibilities consider one another team members and understand the unique strengths within the team?

Or maybe you’re in the same reporting structure with common goals but don’t get the opportunity to work together, and are therefore unaware of the extent of the skills and value that can be provided.

We specialize in strengthening team dynamics

We offer a wide array of team solutions that help you:

  • Unify teams that are spread across the globe
  • Conduct assessments that will identify perceived team strengths and gaps
  • Understand why conflict can be healthy, positive, and motivating
  • Identify common goals and purposes and put a plan in place for action
  • Deliver and receive feedback for personal and team growth
  • and much more . . .

Let us customize a program that will address the specific needs of your team.

Position your team members to increase levels of awareness about communication styles, information processing preferences, while forging stronger bonds of trust, and ultimately improving results and satisfaction levels.

We are most effective as a team when we compliment each other without embarrassment and disagree without fear.
–Unknown

20 Sep
PeopleTek Coaching Leadership

To Meet or Not to Meet

Last week we provided tips for conducting effective meetings.  We received great feedback, and one indicating that we had 2 critical omissions:

  1. There must be a legitimate need to hold the meeting
  2. Ensure all decision makers are present

(The decision makers are those that can make commitments for their areas, and provide necessary funding, if needed. Without them, the discussions are only philosophical and not action oriented).

Ensure your meetings are productive; everyone contributes, no one dominates, decisions are made, and results are obtained!

Meetings with purpose  . . . 

Much has been said about ineffective meetings, and it seems we’ve all experienced them! Per Professor Richard D. Arvey, Ph.D., the top 8 reasons provided for finding meetings a waste of time are:

  1. Our meetings are never on time-they start late and end late
  2. Our meetings are “dull and boring”
  3. There are too many disruptions in our meetings
  4. Decisions never get made in our meetings
  5. Only certain people talk during our meetings
  6. We go off target in our meetings
  7. People lose interest during the course of our meetings
  8. From a simple cost perspective, business meetings are excessively costly given the benefits derived

How many of these reasons resonate with you?  Given that on a typical business day 11 million meetings are held in the U.S., we need to schedule meetings that are necessary as well as provide value.

It was reported that:

  • Executives spend 23 hours/week in meetings, and that 7.8 hours were determined to be wasted time.
  • Managers spend 10 hours week in meetings, and 9 hours were determined to be a waste of time.
  • 90% of attendees day dream
  • 73% bring other work

(How many of you find these numbers to be low?)

RESOURCES: University of Arizona Teamwork Study, MCI Conferencing, UCLA Study, Psychology Today

The need to meet will never go away, but you’re in the position to ensure your meetings are productive; everyone contributes, no one dominates, decisions are made, and results are obtained!

Happy meeting!

13 Sep
PeopleTek Coaching Communication, Success

Effective Meetings

How much of your day is spent attending meetings?

What percentage of them would you say were a good use of your, and the other attendees’ time?

There have been meetings of only a moment which have left impressions for life…
–J. B. Miller

 Effective Meetings

Here’s a recap of proven tips that help:

  • Always have an agenda
  • Start and end on time
  • Rotate the meeting leader/facilitator
  • Begin each meeting with attendees sharing a one minute “experience”
  • State the purpose for being together ex. problem “x” requires resolution; what do we need to do to accomplish “y”; sharing the status of goals, etc.
  • Determine if all key contributors are involved and participating
  • Everyone participates; no one dominates
  • One speaker at a time; no side conversations
  • Discuss issues not personalities
  • Evaluate rather than criticize
  • If it’s a brainstorming session all ideas are accepted
  • Meetings should last between 30 – 60 minutes
  • Conduct staff meetings minimally once a month
  • Establish the day and time for the next meeting and restate all takeaways

What about for more strategic meetings?  Taking a leadership team off-site for a few days is a great way to strategize, encourage creativity, strengthen team relationships, and re-energize your team.  You’ll also want to:

  • Have a clear purpose
  • Identify desired outcomes
  • Determine if attendees should be limited to your team or if a guest speaker or business partner could help you better meet your objective
  • Provide at least 1 month’s advance notice for invited attendees (2 months is even better).
  • Establish a detailed agenda with a timeline and build in “spare” time for hot topics
  • Keep a “parking lot” log of issues or items that require follow-up
  • Have fun!

Wouldn’t it be great if all meetings (and conference calls) left favorable impressions?  Let us know if the tips help!

ANNOUNCING QWIKCOACH!

PeopleTek’s strategic partnership with eCoach offers you a new online support tool for finding solutions for day-to-day issues.

This online coaching support tool provides immediate advice for handling everyday challenges in 3 main areas: People Smarts, Business Sense, and Personal Savvy.

Read More About QwikCoach

06 Sep
PeopleTek Coaching Leadership, Success, Team

Player Engagement

This week NFL football kicks off it’s 2012 – 2013 season. While some of you may be avid football fans, we realize many of you have no interest whatsoever, but we did want to share a little-known leadership program that the NFL has created.

Department NFLPE (National Football League Player Engagement) exists with the purpose to create a model of best practices that will maximize player potential “for a lifetime of commitment, contribution, and community.” How cool is that?

The mission is to maximize players’ potential by facilitating education and life skills training to prepare them for success before, during and after their playing career.
(NFL Player Engagement Mission)

Player Engagement

The Player – to – Player model connects generations of players through a variety of programs that promote success on and off the field. Active players that “do the right things” are chosen to become mentors, contributors, and possibly ambassadors to other players.

Ambassadors (active and past players) are critical to the success of player engagement and must complete a program to become certified as a Transition Coach. They work with 3 areas of player engagement: PREP (pre-NFL), LIFE (active players), and NEXT (former players), and focus on core areas. They include academic excellence, leadership development, social responsibility, health, safety, and wellness.

In addition to working on the core areas, they also focus on:

  • Protecting the NFL brand
  • Establishing best practices
  • Promoting players as their most valuable asset
  • Preserving and growing the game
  • Formalizing standards and certifications
  • Preparing high school and college athletes for becoming professional
  • Supporting Play 60 (exercise for 60 minutes/day)

As leaders (remember, we’re all leaders as we all have the ability to influence others), what more can we do to prepare our business or organization for success, while maximizing the potential of those we work with?

Is there anything to be learned from NFLPE?

ANNOUNCING QWIKCOACH!

PeopleTek’s strategic partnership with eCoach offers you a new online support tool for finding solutions for day-to-day issues.

This online coaching support tool provides immediate advice for handling everyday challenges in 3 main areas: People Smarts, Business Sense, and Personal Savvy.

 

03 Sep
PeopleTek Coaching Leadership

Labor Day and Leadership

All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.
–Martin Luther King, Jr.

The History of Labor Day and Its Leadership Significance

Did you know the first Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882 in New York City, and became a federal holiday in 1894?

Labor Day is dedicated to the achievements of workers that made, and make, the United States strong and prosperous.

We’re relatively certain that many that celebrate Labor Day are unaware of how, when, and why it became a national holiday (it’s really an international holiday with some variances on the day of celebration).

Sadly, the holiday came about because of conflicts (and even deaths) during labor strikes. Many believe President Grover Cleveland was instrumental in the creation of the holiday in order to improve labor relations, and as a way to pay tribute to the American worker who supplied the country with strength, freedom, and leadership.

The labor movement and the American workplace has come a long way since 1882, but strong leadership and the ability to inspire others and obtain results continue to be key drivers for all businesses and organizations.

Labor Day is not just celebrated in the United States; it’s an international holiday recognized around the globe, with some variances on the day of celebration.

Reflect on your leadership contributions. How could you be even more influential? What could you change to become even more successful?

Enjoy the holiday!

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Day and https://www.dol.gov/general/laborday/history.

Coaching Has Evolved

Once seen as the last step for an executive about to fall off the ladder, leadership coaches now help smooth a promotion, teach outsiders about their new culture, and tune up talent.

A coach is like a personal trainer for business.
–Erika Andersen, author of Being Strategic, and coach to many media executives

Also, check out this great article to find out if coaching is right for you.

Call today for a complimentary coaching session!
888.565.9555 ext. 717