Playbook For Performance

In this episode, we explore the often-overlooked topic of strengths and how they can shape our personal and professional lives. We discuss the importance of recognizing and leveraging your natural abilities rather than striving for perfection. We also explore practical ways to identify your strengths using tools like Gallup's StrengthsFinder and learn how to maximize them to enhance individual and team performance.

Key takeaways:

1. Understanding what constitutes a true strength and why it’s crucial to focus on what comes naturally to you.

2. Tips for leaders to encourage and develop their team's strengths.

3. How to delegate tasks that drain your energy and focus on those that put you in a state of flow.

4. Building a personal "board of directors" to support your growth in various areas of life.

5. Strategies for expanding your strengths and reducing tasks that don’t align with them.

Tune in to discover how to make strengths the majority of your "life pie" and foster a more engaged, productive, and fulfilled team or personal life.

Connect with Shawna:

• Website: shawnacorden.com

• https://www.youtube.com/@shawnacorden

• Email: [email protected]

• Instagram: @playbookforperformance

Next Episode Preview:

Remote Team Management – Tips and strategies for leading teams in a hybrid or fully remote work environment.

Want More?

Share your thoughts and feedback in the comments or reach out via www.shawnacorden.com. We'd love to hear what topics you'd like to explore next!

In this episode, we dive into the often-overlooked but crucial topic of team building. Shawna discusses the various aspects of team building, including communication, trust, problem-solving, and decision-making. She outlines the benefits of team building, such as improved collaboration, innovation, and trust within teams. Shawna also shares practical tips on how to incorporate team-building activities into your routine, the importance of psychological safety, and how to measure the effectiveness of these activities.

Key takeaways:

1. Types of Team Building: Understanding different communication styles, trust-building exercises, problem-solving challenges, and decision-making activities.

2. Benefits of Team Building: Enhanced team communication, collaboration, innovation, and trust.

3. Implementation Tips: Start small with regular, brief activities before investing in larger events. Ensure psychological safety and consider using a facilitator to maximize the effectiveness of team-building efforts.

4. Measuring Success: Look for signs of increased trust, better role understanding, and more efficient task handoffs among team members.

Connect with Shawna:

• Website: shawnacorden.com

• https://www.youtube.com/@shawnacorden

• Email: [email protected]

• Instagram: @playbookforperformance

Next Episode Preview:

Shawna will explore leveraging individual strengths within a team to create a group of all-stars rather than a homogenous unit.

Call to action:

Interested in testing our new Resilience app? Email us at [email protected] with "Beta Tester" in the subject line. If you need coaching support for your team, don’t hesitate to reach out!

In this episode of the Playbook for Performance podcast, host Shawna Corden dives into the vital topic of diversity and inclusion within teams. While this subject may seem over-discussed, Shawna brings a fresh perspective, sharing why diversity isn't just a buzzword but a critical driver for innovation, creativity, and effective decision-making.

Key takeaways:

1. Diversity in Teams: The importance of having diverse backgrounds and experiences in teams to foster innovative problem-solving.

2. Mastermind Groups: How diversity within mastermind groups can enhance personal and professional development.

3. Inclusion: Inclusion goes beyond just inviting someone to the table; it’s about ensuring they are prepared, confident, and able to contribute meaningfully.

4. Practical Tips: Role-playing, forming a personal board of directors, and engaging in "immersion therapy" to broaden perspectives.

5. Bias Awareness: The value of understanding personal biases and how they can impact decision-making.

6. Supporting Diversity: How to prepare and support diverse candidates for success within your organization.

Connect with Shawna:

• Website: shawnacorden.com

• https://www.youtube.com/@shawnacorden

• Email: [email protected]

• Instagram: @playbookforperformance

Next Episode Preview:

Tune in next week as we explore team-building strategies that strengthen cohesion and upgrade team skills.

Special Announcement: Shawna is developing an app to improve resilience and is seeking beta testers. If you’re interested, email [email protected] with "beta tester" in the subject line.

In this episode of "Playbook for Performance," Shawna Corden dives into the intricacies of performance management. Far from being a dreaded task, Shawna explains how setting clear expectations can transform this process into a seamless part of leadership.

Episode Highlights

1. Understanding Performance Management:

- Setting clear expectations for your team.

- Differentiating between job descriptions and position plans.

2. The Importance of Expectations:

- Aligning work with how it should be done and deadlines.

- Ensuring mutual understanding of tasks using metaphors like "paint the shed."

3. Managing Time and Projects:

- Balancing workload throughout the year with pie charts and forecasting.

- Addressing busy seasons and planning for personal and professional time.

4. Development Opportunities:

- Focusing on strengths over weaknesses.

- Utilizing mentoring and setting SMART goals for clarity and success.

5. Tracking Progress:

- Regular check-ins and feedback.

- Keeping detailed notes on individual progress.

6. Handling Underperformance:

- Assuming positive intent and offering support.

- Identifying capacity versus capability issues and providing necessary resources.

Resources:

• Contact Shawna Corden: [email protected]

• Shawna’s book on conflict resolution and teamwork strategies

Next Episode Preview:

1. Topic: Diversity and Inclusion

2. Focus: The importance of diversity of thought in enriching teams and improving business outcomes.

Takeaway: Performance management is about setting clear expectations, fostering growth, and maintaining regular communication to ensure team success.

Welcome back to the podcast! In this episode, we'll explore the intricacies of navigating change within teams.

Key Points Discussed:

1. The Brain and Change: Understand why the brain equates change to pain and how developing new neural pathways can be challenging.

2. Research Insights: Learn from the ICF and HCI report on building a coaching culture for change, highlighting common organizational struggles such as poor leadership, communication issues, and burnout.

3. Effective Communication: Tips for over-communicating the reasons for change, the path forward, and timelines.

4. Leadership Role: How leaders can articulate vision, connect individual roles to the bigger picture, and manage the change process with compassion and clarity.

5. Change Intelligence: Introduction to Dr. Barbara Troutline’s Change Intelligence concept and the importance of recognizing different change styles within your team.

6. Support Systems: The importance of providing moral and practical support, including additional staffing, automation, and self-care initiatives.

7. Monitoring Progress: Strategies for tracking and communicating the progress of change initiatives, making necessary adjustments, and leading by example.

Additional Resources:

• Employee Resilience App: Announcing our upcoming app focused on building employee resilience. We're looking for beta testers! Email us at [email protected] with "beta tester" in the subject line.

• CQ Assessment: Learn more about the Change Intelligence (CQ) assessment and how it can benefit your team.

Homework:

- Develop a Clear Communication Plan: Include strategies, key messages, and channels to keep everyone informed and engaged.

- Seek Input and Feedback: Engage your team through surveys, workshops, and team meetings.

- Provide Support Systems: Offer training, coaching, and EAP services to help your team manage change.

- Monitor Progress: Regularly track and communicate the progress of your change initiatives.

Stay Connected:

- Next Episode: We’ll discuss performance management and how to maintain changes for lasting success.

- Feedback and Reviews: If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review and send a screenshot to [email protected] for a chance to receive a signed copy of Shawna’s book.

Join us next time for more insights and strategies on how to effectively lead your team through change. Until then, take good care!