What can it look like when respect is experienced within a team? When each team member feels respected by each other? When team and leader respect each other? Let me share a story of a team that decided to grow in respect for one another.
It was a Monday morning at 8:30 am. Not the best time to start a group consultation.
The four colleagues started by making a list of ways that “they feel respected by others.” There was a slight shift in focus when I invited them to listen to their colleagues’ list as a “cheat sheet for getting the best out of each other.” As the conversation continued, their excitement grew.
“What if we protected each other’s time off?”
“What if we covered for each other in a way that actually allowed us to rest?”
For a team whose members were working 70+ hours a week, that was an attractive proposition. Through-out the session, we discussed many different topics, at the end of my time with them, they had designed a standing agreement, with many more ideas that would benefit them and their work place.
Joe*, the team member who walked me out, shared “You know Tim, you have given us new language to solve for old concerns.” The compliment caught me by surprise, for up until this point, Joe, who had been participating in good faith, had seemed unconvinced during the session. Furthermore, he concluded by saying “I look forward to our next session.”
As respect among the team grew, productivity (sharing of ideas), morale, and general care for others grew. How might your team grow in respect towards each other? Let’s talk about how Nightingale Resolutions can move your team towards high performance.