7 Questions to Create Brag Time

Give team members brag time in one-on-one meetings.

Bad stuff:

Bad overshadows good. You’re rightly concerned about making things better and solving problems. But constant concerns suck the life out of people.

You call issues and problems learning opportunities. Sometimes our ‘learning’ muscle needs a break.

7 questions to create brag time:

1. What are you glad you’re doing?
2. What’s energizing you this week?
3. What’s working?
4. What do you want to do more of?
5. What’s the best thing you’ve done at work this week?
6. What’s the best thing you’ve done for your team this week?
7. What’s the best thing you’ve done for a customer this week?

Brag to me:

Sometimes I just begin a coaching conversation with, “Brag to me.”

Introduction to brag time:

You can start brag time by saying…

“There are always issues to resolve. You deal with them all the time. You can’t brag to employees and colleagues. But you can brag to me.”

OR

“Let’s talk about some good things for a few minutes.”

Brag about:

Before one-on-ones I take three minutes to do four things.

1. Take a few deep breaths to create a break from what I was just doing.
2. Reflect on what I admire about the person I’m going to meet with.
3. Choose how I want to show up.
4. Listen for any questions or topics to come to mind that I might bring up.

Sometimes I tell people what I admire about them.

Indirect brags:

I brag in indirect ways when I say things like:

1. I only work with top performers.
2. I only work with high aspiration people.
3. I admire and respect everyone I work with.

How might leaders integrate brag time into their one-on-ones?

Still curious:

The Secret Power of Bragging

A Five Step One-on-One Any Leader Can Do

Bragging: When Is It OK and When Is It Not OK? | Psychology Today