2. Introduction
Imagine you are taking over a team and have
already taken the following steps.
You will have done your research and know what
must be done to lead the team to success.
You will have made clear contracts with the key
sponsors about the picture of success.
You will have a clear mandate from these sponsors –
the people who employ you - to do whatever is
necessary to guide the team to success.
3. At the same time, it can be useful to have meetings
with people in the team you are taking over. You will
obviously do this in your own way. But here is one
approach.
Explain that before the sessions you would like each
person to do some pre-work. Say that you obviously
have a view of the team's goals, strategy and road
to success.
You would, however, also like to get their in-put.
Invite each person to complete the following piece of
work and send it to you before the session.
5. Introduction
Dear _______
As you know, I have recently taken over the
leadership role in the team.
Obviously I have some clear ideas about the team’s
goals, strategy and road to success. But it is also
important to get your input. So I would like to meet
with you for a one-to-one session.
Bearing this in mind, I would like you to do some
pre-work before the session. You can then send it to
me ahead of the session. We can then use it to focus
on how we can work well together to achieve the
team’s goals.
6. Here is an introduction to the exercises.
* My view of the team’s goals.
Describe what you believe should be the team’s
goals for us to achieve success.
* My view of the team’s strategies.
Describe what you believe should be the three key
strategies the team should follow to achieve this
picture of success.
* My view of the team’s challenges.
Describe what you believe to be the team’s key
challenges and how we can tackle these successfully.
7. * My strengths.
Describe where you deliver As, Bs and Cs
* My best contribution.
Bearing in mind your strengths, describe what you
believe would be your best contribution to achieving
the team’s goals.
There is also space for highlighting any other topics
you would like to discuss in the one-to-one.
The pre-work with take some time. It invites you to
focus on the team’s overall strategy, as well as you
part. So set aside some time to do the exercises.
You can send it to me ahead of the session and then
we will explore it together.
8. My View of
The Team’s Goals
The following pages invite you to describe what
you believe should be the team’s goals if we
are to achieve success.
9. The Team’s Goals
I believe the team’s top three goals should be:
1) To
For example:
*
*
*
11. My View of
The Team’s Strategies
The following pages invite you to describe what
you believe should be the team’s three key
strategies for working towards achieving the
picture of success.
12. The Team’s Strategies
I believe the team’s top three strategies for working
towards achieving the picture of success should be:
1) To
For example:
*
*
*
14. My View of
The Team’s Challenges
The following pages invite you to describe what
you believe should be the team’s top three
challenges and the specific things it can do to
tackle these challenges successfully.
15. The Team’s Challenges
I believe the team’s top three challenges are:
1) To
The specific things we can do to
tackle this challenge successfully are:
*
*
*
16. 2) To
The specific things we can do to
tackle this challenge successfully are:
*
*
*
3) To
The specific things we can do to
tackle this challenge successfully are:
*
*
*
18. Introduction
This exercise invites you to clarify your strengths.
Please be as honest as possible when doing the
exercise.
* Describe the deeply satisfying activities where you
deliver – or have the potential to deliver –
As, rather than Bs or Cs.
These may be particular kinds of projects, tasks or
other activities. Give concrete examples. Please
note. The emphasis is on the word ‘Deliver’.
19. * Describe where you deliver Bs or Cs.
The B activities are probably those that you can do
reasonably well. They are not your As, however, or
maybe they once were but now you get bored
doing them.
The C activities are those where you have little
aptitude or desire to learn.
20. My A Strengths
As. The deeply satisfying activities, projects
or other tasks where I deliver – or
have the potential to deliver - As are:
1)
For example:
*
*
*
22. My Bs and Cs
Bs. The activities where I deliver Bs are:
*
*
*
Cs. The activities where I deliver Cs are:
*
*
23. My Best
Contribution
The following pages invite you to describe your
potential best contribution to the team. Please
bear in mind the team’s potential goals, even
though these are not finalised yet.
Try to link your strengths and best contribution
to achieving the team’s picture of success. If
possible, also outline the potential pluses and
minuses of making this contribution.
24. My Best Contribution
Bearing in mind my strengths, I believe
my best contribution to the team –
together with specific examples - would be:
1) To
For example:
*
*
*
26. Pluses. The pluses of making this contribution –
for the team, customers and myself – would be:
*
*
*
Minuses. The potential minuses –
or other implications – would be:
*
*
Pluses and Minuses
27. The specific things I/We could do to build on
the pluses and minimise the minuses would be:
*
*
*
28. Other Topics
The following page provides space for any
other topics you would like to discuss at our
meeting.
29. The other topics I would like to explore are:
*
*
*
Other Topics
