Tag: team wow

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Wow! Fitting in, with a value-added mindset


Here’s our “wow” for this week: This Wow! goes to —, our newest team member for his self-starting attitude and motivation to make a difference in moving us forward.

Why is this “wow!”? To best identify for the employer if the person is the right fit, deliverables are needed. To best identify for the employee if they are in the right fit, they need to take action.

If both the manager and the employee are thinking โ€œhow can I add most value to him/her, while staying aligned with company goalsโ€ then quick wins will follow. It takes both employee and manager to ensure a good fit and nurture the value for the company. Continue reading “Wow! Fitting in, with a value-added mindset”

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Wow! – When an employee steps up

When an employee steps up, something has gone right. Drill down and youโ€™ll find โ€ฆ continuous communication.

Here’s our “wow” for this week: This Wow! goes to —- who has grown remarkably in his ability to compare how he is doing not to others but to to where he wants to be, and to take accountability for getting there. His positive mindset and drive are making him and our company stronger each day. And his continuous communication and accessibility made him the โ€œgo toโ€ person when a challenge appeared. Continue reading “Wow! – When an employee steps up”

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Wow! We are building an A-Team

Weโ€™re building an A-Team!

In place of our individual Wow, Iโ€™m going to take this opportunity to share a list from Jim Collins, author of โ€œGood to Greatโ€ of the key things an A-team needs. Itโ€™s a good list and if we absorb it, and live it, we too can keep the โ€œWow!sโ€ coming!

According to Jim Collins, one of the key factors for building a world class organization – and keeping it great – is its people.

A-Team Qualifications — Letโ€™s put it to good use now!

1. You know a person is a great fit for your team when they fit with your core values walking in the door. You can train for skills. You can’t train for values.

2. An A-Team person doesnโ€™t need to be tightly managed. The moment you feel the need to micromanage an employee, you know you’ve made a hiring mistake.

3. The right person will understand that they don’t have a job – they have responsibilities.

4. The right person will do what they say they will do. They are accountable in every action.

5. The right person will have โ€œwindowโ€ and โ€œmirrorโ€ maturity. When something goes wrong, they look in the mirror and say “I’m responsible. Here’s what I will do to grow and change.” When things are good, they point out the window and share the success and accolades with their team. They look outside of themselves to share the praise and recognition.

6. They think that what you do is really cool and believe it is a privilege to work for you.

Hey teamโ€ฆ we are already achieving many of these. Wow! As you and I bring new people into the company, let us always keep this list in mind. It fits who we are.

Thanks to my local colleague, Anne-Marie Faiola, The Soap Queen, for posting this first. Look for this list and lots more good stuff in Jim Collinโ€™s upcoming book due out in May 2009.

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Wow! Team Stick Strategy

Big businesses in the U.S. are receiving bailout funds. Whether they “deserve” this or not is something many of us question. I for one am always loathe for dollars to be thrown to who yells the loudest or can harm the most, rather than those positioned to add the most value. Ok. It’s done.

So what?! Lots of things happen “just because” and we can whine about it, or we can make our own success. Every action is our choice.

We choose to keep adding value with what we’ve got… We are sticking to it! We are confident, accountable .. and we trust that our journey is adding value, including to those in our company.

Here’s our “wow” for this week: This Wow! goes to Abrige & C-Secure team members who are doing all they can with the resources at hand today…knowing there is a better tomorrow and that we control that. The prize is near from this entrepreneurial journey. You know who you are, because you are here. You exhibit confidence, trust and accountability. We are sticking together.

Why is this “wow!”? Choosing to stick when pay or perks become more tightly linked to performance requires confidence, trust and accountability. One must have the confidence in themselves that they can complete what was started. There must be trust that the leader will steer the company well if all the crew are doing what they are supposed to do. And accountability is required to meet promises to reach a long term goal, which may require more effort with less reward in the short term. We will remain strong because we have confidence, trust and accountability. Continue reading “Wow! Team Stick Strategy”

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Wow! Thinking like an owner

Today more than ever a leader needs their team to care and tend to the bottom line. Weโ€™ve got that โ€“ Wow!

Here’s our “wow” for this week: This Wow! goes to —- who decided that he and a friend could build an application we needed, and do so on their own time. This way we could get exactly what we wanted, and without a subscription cost. —- was watching out for opportunities that would help us, and for the impact on our bottom-line. This is exactly what one means when they strive to have their team โ€œthinking and acting like owners.โ€ That we have this in our team deserves a resounding, Wow! Continue reading “Wow! Thinking like an owner”

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Wow! Teamwork in hard times

What does teamwork really mean? Would the U.S. economy be where it is today if we really had this? Ok, the U.S. economy is for another post. This post is about us, and how in bad times we are becoming a better and more focused team.

This Wow! was hard to write. It was also exciting to write. It exposes leadership weaknesses (clarity, verification). It also cheers leadership strengths (vision, empathy, persistence) that compel people to do the right thing rightโ€ฆto keep the business โ€“ our ship- clipping along in or toward a blue ocean (niche success!), even in the midst of chaosโ€ฆ

Here’s our “wow” for this week: This Wow! goes to my team. This month every single person on the team deferred their pay until the work they have in progress is completed. The only exceptions made were for part-time team members who completed short projects.

Why is this “wow!”? I look around and see that we are not the only team not completely in check with our strategy day to day. Thereโ€™s a better way and we are moving to itโ€ฆand ready to help others do the same.

If people stop doing the right things right, the ship stops, or at least stalls and goes off course.

We didnโ€™t stopโ€ฆthanks to the team. The communication is becoming clearer every day. And we are making the small yet continuous adjustments needed to keep on course. Continue reading “Wow! Teamwork in hard times”

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Wow! Getting the right things done, with lessโ€ฆ

Getting the right things done, with lessโ€ฆ When we make steps toward this goal, even small ones, then I just have to sayโ€ฆWow!

Here’s our “wow” for this week: This Wow! goes out to —- for continuously seeking ways to meet our design needs โ€“ which are defined by our marketโ€™s needs – at a lower cost, but still keeping our highly professional look and feel. Continue reading “Wow! Getting the right things done, with lessโ€ฆ”

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Wow! Excellence is not perfection

You received a Holiday e-card from me today. It was a team effort, —– and me, and it gets my wow because it was started and completed fast! Weโ€™ve not always been good at โ€œfast.โ€

Here’s our “wow” for this week: —–, I am sending you this “WOW!” because you did exactly what was needed to get this out on time, hurdling obstacles in this quick race.

Why is this “wow!”? At the last minute, Thursday, I decided to create a holiday video. I had confidence that we could get this done fast. And we did! But we were faced with many hurdles, most of which —- ended up having to jump overโ€ฆ.

It started with meโ€ฆ I couldnโ€™t figure out how to put together the light kit I purchased. I really wanted this to be my sincere, personal-yet-professional message. I also wanted it to be festive… Continue reading “Wow! Excellence is not perfection”

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Wow! Thinking like an Owner

This week’s Wow! goes to —.

Here’s our “wow” for this week:

—, I am sending to you a “WOW!” because you continue to think about the company with the eyes of an owner; someone who deeply cares about the company’s success and the realization our vision.

Why is this “wow!”? While all stakeholders (employees, advisors, officers, vendors) care that we continue to be a going concern, usually everyone but the owner(s)…the person(s) assuming all the risk and not getting paid unless the company makes money… are at-will in their motivation and focus for the company.

—, your owner-like attention, effort and patience are a true gift to me and to the company. Continue reading “Wow! Thinking like an Owner”

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Wow! Innovation

Hi everyone!

You have ALL done great things (those with us for more than one week) and Iโ€™m in arrears of shouting about it.

Iโ€™m starting now with a Team โ€œWow!โ€ of the Week ๏Š

Hereโ€™s our โ€œwowโ€ for this week: He succeeded in re-developing our light-weight gauge in EXECUTE! so that the pointers move to point to the actual value (not just to the color-code), at all reporting levels and for any date.

Why is this โ€œwow!โ€? We did not think it could be done.
Why was it important? Our higher-quality โ€œcoolerโ€ gauge could result in slow viewing for customers connected via low bandwidths, such as new prospects in Asia who will be trying and buying soon!

Continue reading “Wow! Innovation”