Volume XXII, Number 24 (Issue 1080) June 10, 2024
Top of Mind
What is top of mind for you today? More to the point, what is top of mind for your team? As much as you would like for you and your team to be on the same page and working in unison, is it possible some on the team are focused on and giving priority to other things? People being people, if you are not taking certain steps to ensure everyone is working in concert as they begin their day and move through their week, the odds are high they will fail to achieve all they could, let alone all you need them to.
At this point you may have picked up on a couple of musically related references in my opening. Know that it was intentional. That is because I would like us to focus on how our teams can make more beautiful music together. Thus, to continue the theme I offer the following definitions of a chorus according to the Oxford Dictionary:
noun
- 1.a part of a song that is repeated after each verse, typically by more than one singer.
- 2.a large organized group of singers, especially one that performs together with an orchestra or opera company.
verb
- 1.(of a group of people) who say the same thing at the same time: ““Morning, Father,” the children chorused”
It has been our experience that one of the surest ways of getting everyone singing the same tune day in and day out is to have them (the team) start the workday in a quick (five-minute) team huddle where there is a single topic of discussion. That topic could be an element of the organization’s core values, the mission, a desirable behavior, a specific goal to be accomplished, a status update in the midst of a project, or some other topic that everyone needs to prioritize (make top of mind) throughout their day.
For those daily sessions to yield the best results it is important that everyone, I mean everyone, take part, regardless of their hierarchical status, their work model (in office, remote, or work from home), and tenure. Taking it a step further, responsibility for leading each huddle should rotate among the members of the team. It will be awkward at first for some since speaking in front of a group – even
an intimate group of friends and coworkers – can be daunting. Yet after a few cycles the growth in each team member’s comfort level, skills, and focus will be noticeable. Finally, if we are talking about topics that apply organization-wide, each team’s daily huddle should speak to the same topic. One means of maximizing the message’s impact is to share specific examples of the day’s topic being effectively modeled by others within the organization.
To quote Priscilla Shirer (author, actor, speaker, media personality, and evangelist), “Unity does not mean sameness. It means oneness of purpose.” If you want your people working together and giving their best, start by getting them on the same page singing the same verse.
Soli Deo Gloria
“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
J. Keith Hughey
Mobile: (210)260-0955
E-mail: keith@jkeithhughey.com
Website: www.jkeithhughey.com
Transforming Potential into Unmatched Performance
Copyright 2024 by J. Keith Hughey. All rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted for reproduction and redistribution of this essay as provided under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Recent issues of Musings may be found at www.jkeithhughey.com. Your comments are always welcome.