The power of checking in
Imagine this: You hire a personal trainer. They take your information, develop a plan, and show you the ropes. You're feeling motivated and ready to crush your fitness goals. But then, after a few weeks, your trainer drops off the face of the earth. No more check-ins, no more guidance, just crickets.
How are YOU showing up at work?
I want to tell you a story.
Once upon a time in a land not so far away, I worked in an office.
And I was MISERABLE.
I hate to admit that, but I was. And I know I was. And everyone who worked there knew it too.
I do my little turn on the catwalk.
On the catwalk.
Yeah.
(Right Said Fred anyone? Or did I just age myself?)
Oh wait, wrong kind of modelling.
What’s the cost NOT to?
t’s been an interesting couple of weeks. I’ve teamed up with a friend and fellow facilitator to help leaders navigate the rocky waters of mental health in the workplace with our leadership summit called Managing Employee Mental Health & Wellness Post Pandemic.
Let’s have some dang fun already.
“I don’t remember the last time we had this much fun!” shared one participant with a smile at the end of a recent workshop.
That is music to my ears my friends, because not only did we have fun, we also got some serious work accomplished.
What the Mighty Ducks can teach us about running a solid team.
No, not the NHL’s Anaheim Mighty Ducks. I’m talking the quack-quack-quacking, flying V-ing, knuckle puck shooting, coached by Gordon Bombay original Mighty Ducks.
A strategic whaaaat?
Up until a few years ago, I had never once uttered the phrase “strategic action plan”. The first time I heard said phrase, the initial thought that crossed my mind was BOOOORING!
What WAS Chandler Bing’s job?
We are sitting around the campfire, everyone is chatting when I hear, “Dee! I want to talk to you about your business. I want to share it with people but I don’t really understand what it is you do exactly.”
Ouch.
You talkin’ to me?
Yes, as a matter of fact, I am talking to you.
Actually to be more specific, I am asking you a couple of questions.
How are you doing? And what do you need?
These are two vital questions to check in with the team, increase camaraderie and connection and make people feel cared about.
Isn’t that so nice? To feel cared about? To know people give a damn that you are there because you are YOU and not just a warm body.
What your team really wants.
The beauty of working with teams is that I get a lot of intel around what teams want and NEED to thrive.
Since I’m feeling especially generous today, I am going to share the top three things that teams want.
When a Negative Nelly is bringing the team down.
We’ve all worked alongside at least one of these people in our lives. Maybe we’ve even been that person.
I know I have.
You know the one. The one who thinks everything sucks. The one who complains that work is terrible and refuses to participate in staff events. The one who is like a dark cloud that rains on everyone else’s parade.
This is my battle cry.
“Well that’s a new one”, I say incredulously to my co-facilitator at the end of our workshop.
I am holding a card that says one word. DICTATORSHIP. It is printed in bold, block letters as a response to the question:
‘What is blocking you from achieving a mentally healthy work environment?’
Maybe it’s you.
You know the classic breakup line “it’s not you, it’s me”?
Well, when it comes to the turnover or your quality team, maybe it is you.