Surface Ripples

Focus, Inform, Perform - Improving Team Performance

The phrase “Information is power” used to mean that there were people who deliberately withheld important information from their juniors, colleagues or even managers on the basis that it gave them an “advantage” of some sort.

Nowadays, information is power, but in a different way. Individuals, teams and companies rely on real-time information to deliver products or services. In some ways, the situation hasn’t changed; we need information, but now it’s easier to obtain thanks to email, the internet and mobile communications. However, there are still individuals who won’t (or, more often, can’t) share information when it’s most needed.

Failing to share information means delays, poor service, miscommunication, mistakes, inadequate resourcing, stress, frustration, resentment, low morale, loss of business and possible litigation to name a few. Most of these can be eliminated or at least reduced through one simple method – the “team briefing”.
Different organisations have different names for these. Some call them “Team Briefings”; others call them “Morning Prayers” or “Management Meetings”. What they all have in common is a fixed agenda, focus (i.e. brief and to the point), they last little time and action points are distributed and actioned. Those attending know that if they have nothing to say, they need not say anything to “fill the gaps”. The point of these meetings is to get the team focussed and informed to perform (think focus, inform, perform).

I used to attend monthly meetings which could go on and on as everyone felt that they had to contribute (it was viewed as a bad sign if you had nothing to say after the last meeting one month ago). These days, few have the luxury (or inclination) to sit through a 2-hour meeting. I’ve heard of teams who have meetings standing up so that everyone stays focussed. Others ban Blackberries and other mobile communications devices.

Ask yourself how well you and your team share information now, and what you could do. Who are the “keepers” and who are the “sharers”?

I have spent more than half my life working in different world markets from the most developed to “emerging” economies. With more than 20 years in the world financial services industry running different service, operations and lending businesses, I started my own Performance Management Consultancy and work with individuals, small businesses, charities, quoted companies and academic institutions across the world. An international speaker, trainer, author and fund-raiser, I can be contacted by email . My website provides a full picture of my portfolio of services.

Labels: Teamwork

posted by William Martin @ 09:54