11/23/2024
As you’re building your collaborative team, working in the Big Room, Cluster Groups, Daily Huddles and breakout sessions, don’t forget the needs of the individual. That collaborative team is made up of single human souls, each with their own personal history, challenges, and needs.
Working in groups does not necessarily support and address the unique needs of each of the persons in the group. As a leader, you have a fiduciary responsibility to care about individuals, to listen to them, and to nurture them.
Fearless Culture guru Gustavo Razzetti points out, “For remote or hybrid teams, regular check-ins are even more essential to increase a sense of belonging. Frequent one-on-ones help counter feelings of isolation, keeping team members engaged and aligned no matter where they’re working from.” [https://gustavorazzetti.substack.com/p/this-is-how-to-have-one-on-one-meetings?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email]
Each person needs to feel valued, unique, and that is his or her life matters to others. These one-on-one conversations, may be boss-to-employee in hierarchical groups or they can simply be person-to-person in flat organizations.
Start each conversation with “small talk” sharing a recent moment or asking about family. Then clarify, “What’s the main topic we should address today?” or a better phrase might be “What do we want out of today’s conversation?” It’s friendlier.
Be fully present by actively listening. Think of yourself as a facilitator of the conversation and let the other person lead the direction and express their feelings and ideas, while you helped shape the conversation with open questions or exploratory deep dive questions.
Avoid jumping in with solutions. Remember that “Respect for People” means the person with the problem or challenge gets the collaboration of others to help identify root causes, but when the likely measures have been offered, the one with the problem gets to be the ones who figures out how to enact the solution.
Wisely, Razzetti advises, “Provoke reflection. Encourage your team member to think critically about their experiences, goals, and challenges.”
“Intentional design and facilitation [of these conversations] can transform one-on-ones into powerful conversations, making team members feel supported. Far from being just another routine meeting, they provide valuable opportunities to connect, align, and grow together.”
