Think about your last team meeting. During discussions, who spoke most, least, or not at all? Consider what you did, or did not do, to make the conversation balanced.
Some people love making to-do lists, while others never write them. Consider how the lists you keep (or don’t keep) are working for you. Do they help you get things accomplished?
Think about the last mistake your team made. Consider holding a “lessons learned” discussion in a team meeting to talk it over. Establish a rule that there should be no fault-finding or laying of blame. The guiding question should be “What could we ALL do differently next time?”
Think about something that you worked on with a team that did not go as well as you would have liked it to. How did you contribute to that less-than-optimal result? Anyone who is even remotely involved in an event has some power over how it turns out. That contribution might be small (“I didn’t listen very well to your input”) or large (“I miscalculated the numbers and created a shortfall”).
Make a list of “low-hanging fruit” problems that are aggravating your customers. (“Low-hanging fruit problems” = ones that can be easily, quickly solved.) Create small groups of team members and assign at least two of these items to each group. Make sure the problems are clearly defined. Ask the groups to analyze the problem, generate possible solutions, and evaluate the alternatives. Be sure to check in on the progress of the teams and provide support where needed.
Think about how you solve problems. Which of your problem-solving skills are stronger: analysis, creativity, or decision making?
Take a mental inventory of your team. How is diversity of thought displayed across the team? Does everyone think alike, or do you have many strong, varied opinions expressed by different team members?
Prepare a list of all of the certifications that are relevant to your current position or industry. Use relevant online searches, and review online resumes and profiles of leaders in your industry as you compile your list.
Is there a facet of your job that you think could be done more efficiently? Or, perhaps you think there is a procedure that could be eliminated without negative repercussions that would save time and money. Maybe you have an idea for an enhanced service that could be offered to clients. Write this idea down, and look for an opportunity to share it with someone else today (e.g., at a team meeting, with your supervisor, or with someone else whose opinion you value).
If you don’t know it already, locate your organization’s mission statement. Consider how it serves your various audiences (e.g., customers/clients, staff and/or members, leadership/executive team and/or board, strategic partners, other internal and external stakeholders).
