Are we there yet?
By paulacollins On May 31, 2011 · Leave a Comment · In Optimized Performance, Soft skills for hard tasks
#10 – We have a structured system for checkpoints on progress, and we follow the process. No one on our team has to wonder how things are going. They are kept informed.
When I was a very young child, my parents had an interesting travel methodology. Since neither of my parents was [...]
What’s missing NOW?
By paulacollins On May 30, 2011 · Leave a Comment · In Optimized Performance, Soft skills for hard tasks
#9 – We set a plan with outcomes and accountability established and clearly articulated.
Defining an outcome is directly linked to the definition of success you established a while back in this overall collaborative idea process. (or, at least, you should have…)
At this point, you’ve defined success, brainstormed, sifted through the [...]
WMMTD?**
By paulacollins On May 27, 2011 · Leave a Comment · In Optimized Performance, Soft skills for hard tasks
#8 – We clearly set proper expectations on deliverables, complete with who, what, by when.
Imagine you’re in the middle of a project knowing that 3 other people have key components you must have to be successful in delivering on the key piece for which you’re responsible. Now, imagine the feeling – [...]
#7 – Resource leveling (spreading the work, not overbooking) is done for all resources (money, minds, external resources). We make sure we have what we need, and we’ll have it when we need it.
There is an art and a science to this one for sure, and frankly most teams don’t really [...]
#6 – The critical path for success is well defined and clearly documented.
This builds on the last entry for sure. Once you have actually articulated somehow – a piece of paper, a gigantic poster, a formal project plan – whatever the form… Once it’s documented, you have to clearly identify the [...]
#5 – We have a well defined process for deciding on priorities and we follow that process.
Determining priorities to make up a critical path – the steps that absolutely have to be taken and without just one of them, you’re not going to be successful – is one of the most [...]
#4 – We reach consensus before moving to the planning stage.
Unless you want to watch a free-for-all after you adjourn, make sure you reach consensus among those responsible for planning how you’ll bring your awesome idea to fruition.
Let’s be clear on one thing. Consensus doesn’t mean everyone on the room [...]
#3 – We use a well defined process of refinement of ideas generated and we follow that process.
Okay, so you’ve come up with a short list of great ideas together. (And, you’ve managed to capture all the others ones which bubbled out – weird and amazing alike.) Now, what do to [...]
#2 – All ideas (written, whiteboard, etc) are captured from all brainstorming / collaborative sessions - even those destined for the “not now” file.
Sometimes it’s the strangest of ideas which end up bringing about the best solution. We’ve covered before being comfortable, unafraid, even eager to throw your wildest idea on [...]
Did we hit the target?
By paulacollins On May 17, 2011 · Leave a Comment · In Optimized Performance, Soft skills for hard tasks
#1 – The definition of success is clearly defined at the outset of any collaborative effort – from a simple brainstorming meeting to a complete, company/organization-wide project.
If you’ve ever walked out of a meeting and thought, “what exactly did we accomplish?”, then you know the problem of starting a meeting without [...]
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