Finish the Year Strong: Connect, Celebrate and Commit
Distinguish yourself as an effective leader when you get your team together this fall to honor their contributions and inspire them to finish the year strong.
Whether you have two hours or two days, go offsite, book a training room or make do with videoconference to join people in multiple locations, the most important thing is gathering to CONNECT, CELEBRATE and COMMIT.
CONNECT to Purpose and Each Other
Set the tone by reconnecting to your mission, vision and values and share stories that make them real. Highlight examples of your mission in action and share how people demonstrate the values. This reminds them of how meaningful their work is and reinforces their commitment to your desired culture. It also establishes context for evaluating accomplishments and prioritizing action (next on the meeting agenda).
Connect with each other (on a personal level) by breaking bread together at least once during the session. Even if you have to go with a videoconference, arrange food delivery in all locations for a little virtual fellowship. This is a great time for "H@W&H@H": each person (briefly) shares something they're happy about at work and at home. These insights humanize co-workers who may not know each other very well, frequently lead to expressions of heartfelt gratitude and always strengthen the team dynamic.
CELEBRATE Success and Acknowledge Accomplishments
Allocate a portion of the agenda to highlighting progress on significant projects and meaningful contributions to team goals. This section is well suited for pre-work, asking each person to come with a hit list of major accomplishments--both their own and other team member's. Using worksheets or white boards, create headers for your current goals. Let people build it out with related achievements. Guide a discussion about high impact actions as well as lessons learned and take time to celebrate your progress to date.
Look for opportunities to recognize other important individual and team milestones. Earning a professional designation, receiving an award, organizing a community volunteer activity, setting a record for employee engagement survey participation and improving engagement scores are just a few of the possible accomplishments worthy of special recognition during a team meeting.
COMMIT to and Clarify Priorities on Path to Year-End
After reconnecting to your purpose and each other and celebrating success stories, now is the time to get real about where to invest the team's resources for the rest of the year. Here you can avoid the paralyzing quandary of "when everything is a priority, nothing is a priority" by clarifying the path ahead. Depending on the size of your team and the scope of your work, even if it's not possible to concentrate efforts on a single, highest priority, reducing the list to only a couple critical initiatives at this point is key.
Your willingness to defer some activities in favor of higher value work demonstrates your practical understanding of the current environment and your respect of the team's talent and time. While this leadership behavior takes some courage, it enhances your credibility and bolsters the team's resolve to hit the targeted goal(s).
Renew your commitment to the team's development as well. Either at this team meeting or after, look for ways to leverage individual's strengths in new ways. Encourage people to step up during this year-end home stretch. Be alert to people excelling in informal leadership roles, team members revealing their and those sharing their subject matter expertise. Recognize them--in real time--for their contributions.
You can overcome possible roadblocks to having a successful team meeting including time (to plan and meeting time "out of the office"), energy (yours and the team's), budget, meeting space, technology, and multiple locations. A team meeting with this agenda at this point in the year is an opportunity to shine a light on the people and stories behind your success, focus on what's working and build on that momentum. It's an investment in your leadership skills and your team's performance that will boost your effectiveness.
I'm happy to help you think through how to make this happen.
