Two Lists, Not One
Many of us start each week with a task list of the most important things we must get done. This is good.
Most people when working on a project, service ticket, resolving a problem, building something or in a variety of other activities also create a list of steps to complete to be successful.
Both of these examples focus on the tasks or work that needs to be done.
We are developing methods to teach people the steps they need to follow to develop strong customer and coworker relationships. Although a lot of the time you do not follow a written list to build, maintain or improve a relationship, you still are following a series of steps or tasks.
Jeff Wood of Wood Networks calls these two approaches a list mentality versus a relationship mentality. A technical person is used to working a list, but not intentionally taking actions to work to build a relationship. The alternate extreme is to focus on the relationship, but not do the activities necessary to get work done.
Jeff states and I agree that to be successful we need to do both, and we need to train our people so they have the skills to do both.
Therefore if your people are strong completing tasks, then how can you train them to better develop positive, lasting relationships with clients and coworkers?
If your people are strong at developing relationships, then how can you help them develop better skills to focus on achieving what is most important each week and hold them accountable to those goals?
Tasks + Relationships = Balanced Success
Meeting Ideas
TWO LISTS, NOT ONE is a reminder that our ability to achieve our most important, job-related tasks is equally important as the relationships we maintain with clients and coworkers. To excel in one and disregard the other increases stress, mistakes and lost opportunities.
Here are some questions to consider with your people about how well they are doing balancing relationships and key tasks:
List your three greatest strengths and weaknesses in managing relationships with clients and coworkers. Share ideas on one thing you could do to further build upon each strength and improve in each area of weakness.
List your three greatest strengths and weaknesses in defining key tasks to be done each week and completing them. Share ideas on one thing you could do to further build upon each strength and improve in each area of weakness.
Schedule to work on one strength and one weakness each week for the next three weeks. Confirm this focus with your boss and if you meet regularly with coworkers, your team. Report back to them weekly how you are experiencing improvement in these two areas, and if not why not.