Coaching, Mentoring and Managing3 3. Good Communication
In the blanks at the left, list three ways you can improve communication
between team members. Maybe a Friday afternoon “Coffee & Recap”
meeting would help air out any lingering problems or resentments. How
about an employee-produced newsletter? Some teams have eliminated
killer comments by having a jar in their manager’s office. Anytime
someone says a putdown or killer comment, and another associate calls it,
the instigator puts in a quarter. Proceeds pay for a special team
celebration. Use your imagination — and solicit ideas from the entire
team. In the blanks at the right, write one step that could be taken to
achieve each goal.
Communication Improvement Step to Achieve- Growth Opportunity
In the blanks at the left, list three ways to empower your associates. Are
there functions performed by you or a supervisor that the team could do?
Are there procedures that might be improved from within the team rather
than imposed from outside? For instance, do you have a problem-solving
committee among your team members to handle selected difficulties? Is
there an idea development committee? Have you considered asking team
members to write their own job descriptions? How might your team
members be encouraged to take ownership in company plans and policies
— and grow as individuals — through new responsibilities? In the blanks
at the right, write one step that could be taken to achieve each goal.
Empowerment Opportunity Step to Achieve