I am spending one week with one of my organizational clients, facilitating meetings and coaching the participants in how to better apply dialogue skills to the everyday workings of the organization.
Today I was working with a group that was reviewing what difficulties they encountered in the execution of a big order. They did a great job analyzing what worked and what needed improvement. While facilitating the dialogue, I started thinking that others can also benefit from some of their insights, which I share below.
- When an organization is working at top speed and top capacity, the leadership has to take the time to talk and review the flow of things through the different departments. It is easy to let the urgency of what is going on in your own corner blind you to how each department contributes to problems and solutions.
When leaders take the time to talk, it is easier to find ways to collaborate and help each other fulfill time lines. Many of the problems encountered could have been avoided, or solved sooner, if there were more inter-department communication. Heads up on a possible delay, or about an upcoming need, could facilitate an easier flow. - Processes that work well in normal circumstances, do not always perform well under pressure. Planning ahead, thinking outside familiar boxes, and making sure processes are well executed contribute to success.
- Instead of looking for who to blame when things go wrong, looking for solutions fixes problems quicker and helps productivity.
- Finding what went well is as important as finding what went wrong, since it will contribute to future success. When I suggested they start the meeting listing what went well, they were surprised they had not thought of that. Looking at their strengths made it easier to deal with the weaknesses.
- Leader's time is better utilized in planning and making sure the execution is going well, than in fixing problems. With the right parameters and instructions in place, others can come up with great solutions on their own. If the leadership keeps the big picture and the sense of urgency in front of their direct report people, they will rise to the occasion and find ways to make things work.
When organizations engage in transformative conversations, there are many practical discoveries that can have a positive impact on the bottom line. This is a sample of what Logos Noesis achieves through dialogue training. Contact us to learn how we can help your organization find better ways to communicate and collaborate. We will also like to see your comments and thoughts below.