“Concentrate all your thoughts upon the work at hand. The sun's rays do not burn until brought to a focus..” In this episode, share my recent experience guiding a team in a focused conversation to complete a designated task. If you are in a position to lead a team to success, be sure to keep the team focused on the task at hand and not get bogged down with analysis paralysis.
In any job, effective communication and collaboration are crucial for achieving success. While digital platforms have made it easier to connect remotely, there are times when face-to-face conversations are essential. Two weeks ago, I had a firsthand experience of a team working together to develop an enterprise solution highlighting the significance of staying task-focused within a team.
The Lock-In Experience - As a collective team, we decided that we needed to meet in person to develop a long-overdue solution. No more emails or virtual team meetings; we needed to meet in person and work quickly towards a solution. Jokingly, I called the event a "lock-in," as in we are locking ourselves in a room and not leaving until we are finished. In addition, I wanted to use the term “lock-in” as a throwback term that was reminiscent of the past, where people would gather in a room with sleeping bags and engage in activities like playing video games all night. However, this lock-in had a different purpose. It aimed to bring together a team of technical experts to develop an enterprise solution.
Staying Task-Focused - During the lock-in, the team faced the challenge of staying task-focused. My role within the team was representing lead command, where I set the tone by emphasizing the importance of staying on track and finding creative solutions to develop the enterprise way ahead. While it was natural for discussions to stray and for individuals to share their past experiences, the author reminded the team to remain focused on the current problem at hand.
Effective Decision-Making - To ensure progress, I established time limits for decision-making. Before lunch, the team was given 45 minutes to convince me why a particular course of action should not be chosen. This exercise encouraged the team to present their ideas and concerns within a specified timeframe. This technique also focused the team to discuss and reach a collective decision, eliminating unnecessary delays.
Visualization and Team Dynamics - After critical decisions were made, as a team we shifted to developing a plan to reach the desired end state. I’m a big fan of visualizing ideas and remained a coach within the discussion, where we had a whiteboard to sketch out the plan and facilitate discussions. This visual representation helped the team understand the timing, tempo, and critical path of the project. It also created a shared understanding among team members, ensuring everyone was aligned with the direction and dependencies of the project. I was then able to quickly transfer that whiteboard sketch to a professional presentation that summarized our discussion and documented our path forward. Within a few hours, we stay focused on the task as a team and delivered the desired result.
The experience of the lock-in emphasizes the benefits of face-to-face collaboration and staying task-focused within a team. By setting clear goals, establishing time boundaries, and utilizing visualization techniques, teams can enhance their productivity and make significant progress. As a leader, understanding that you can and should serve as a coach and facilitator demonstrates the importance of effective leadership in guiding teams toward task accomplishment.
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