Francie Van Wirkus's Blog, page 3

Useful authority is not a jab, here. When this situation is part of your daily (hourly?) work, it’s...

Useful authority is not a jab, here. When this situation is part of your daily (hourly?) work, it’s sign that change is needed.

You may have a formidable list of things you didnt expect to do (or not do) in 2020. Beyond the...

You may have a formidable list of things you didnt expect to do (or not do) in 2020. Beyond the reactions, the collective sighs, its time to reflect. So you can build your resilience for the future.

MindfulnessChange from the ever-repeating groundhog day to a mindful day. Change how you live your...

Mindfulness

Change from the ever-repeating groundhog day to a mindful day. Change how you live your days, so you dont miss the nuance of discovery and learning.

Trust the Teams Means Trusting the System(s)Trusting the team in...

Trust the Teams Means Trusting the System(s)

Trusting the team in a complex organization has two parts, one far more challenging than the other.

There is the leadership quality of letting go and trusting a team to do the work. It includes avoiding micromanaging, and being curious rather than overbearing. It’s a huge topic, with many ways to overcome this personal skill, including coaching. 

The second and more challenging part of trusting the team is actually trusting your system(s). If your system doesn’t give reason to know what going on, the teams will be unpredictable. This problem needs incremental, systematic improvements that help create agility over time.

It’s down to nuance. You know how to use online video and collaboration tools, so the big problems...

It’s down to nuance.

You know how to use online video and collaboration tools, so the big problems have been solved. Remaining improvements are likely found in the details and nuance. Observe with focus and with curiosity. Not usually done with multiple chat screens and your phone open.

Think big. Just a few. Experiment. Great advice for portfolio management and your personal vision.

Think big. Just a few. Experiment.

Great advice for portfolio management and your personal vision.

Personal vision and true career development are about becoming, so make it something that the rest...

Personal vision and true career development are about becoming, so make it something that the rest of your life cannot ignore. Excerpt from my upcoming book!

Cross-functional teams are diverse in talent and perspective, yet all working on a common goal. It...

Cross-functional teams are diverse in talent and perspective, yet all working on a common goal. It take leaders offering relentless connection to vision for this to happen. Begin today. Vision is king!

Curious leaders are open minded to what is happening around them, no matter the number of...

Curious leaders are open minded to what is happening around them, no matter the number of experiences in their past.

Customer Feedback Loop is Follow Through

An excerpt from my upcoming book on strategic and resilient teams.

The concept of customer value, and having a customer-focused team or company is nothing new; follow through is. A customer feedback loop is the actual follow through on getting the voice of the customer for which most teams and organizations fail to take action. 

Beyond the expensive, centralized (far removed from where value is delivered), often-slow-to-get-results practice of surveys, there is a need for a feedback loop at the front line. If teams are where the actual value is delivered, they are likely a great source for a meaningful customer feedback loop.