High energy organization are led by skilled management teams.
5 questions to re-energized a de-energized team:
#1. Where is the complexity*?
- Complexity is the result of taking the path of least resistance.
- Simplicity requires courage to press through discomfort.
- Address issues you’re avoiding if you desire simplicity. Things get more complex before they get simple.
- Simplicity comes through painful labor.
- Simplicity in one area ends up causing complexity downstream.
- Declare your intention to create simplicity.
- Persistently poke and prod with a smile.
#2. How are we showing respect to each other?
Energy is a matter of the heart.
- Tell people what you respect about them. Look them in the eye and say, “You’re really great at … .”
- Don’t pressure people to be something they aren’t. Persistent failure calls for redesigning jobs or reassigning people. (Work to develop people before redesigning or reassigning.)
- Show interest in people, not just performance.
The most important thing about us is the way we treat each other.
#3. How might you cause distraction or delay?
- How are you letting-go so others can take-hold? Autonomy energizes.
- How are you walking around looking for what’s right?
- How might you distract from priorities?
- How might nitpicking cause anxiety and slow progress?
- When was the last time you put pen to a thank you note?
- How are you solution-centric rather than problem-centric?
- How might you create dependency? The goal of helping is getting people to the place where they help others.
#4. What specifically are you doing to develop people so they can face challenges without you?
Don’t just solve problems. Develop people who solve problems.
#5. How are you connecting people with higher purpose?
Rigorous day to day challenges cause people to forget what matters.
What might managers do to re-energize a de-energized team?
* This list is mostly a recollection of ideas from Insanely Simple by Ken Segall.
