STRUCTURE & CLARITY
For a team to have a strong Structure & Clarity score, members need to un- derstand how the organization is configured and how it operates—and where and how they and their colleagues fit into the picture. Team members who can articulate exactly what’s expected of them (and of each other) and who have the resources and information to meet those expectations will feel more comfortable making decisions and more confident that their work will be relevant. Structure & Clarity score Good or Very Good? Reflect on the behaviors cre- ating this condition. This will help you know what to do to maintain strength in this area. Structure & Clarity score could be higher? Do The Work.
SUCCESS STORY. One of the Extension Foundation’s client teams was struggling because the members were geographically dispersed and it was easy to inadver- tently leave people out of conversations. Once the team realized the main cause of the confusion, they created a group text thread and then set the expectation that everyone provide a daily update on any progress they made, large or small. This gave everyone a straightforward, accessible platform for communication and the clarity they needed to make their collaboration more effective. FOR INSPIRATION People have an innate need for structure and will gravitate toward and quickly integrate obvious, simple structures. Listen to this audience easily follow (and anticipate!) the pattern that musician Bobbie McFerrin creates.
THE WORK. Leader Work
c Review the way you communicate the priority level of projects and tasks. Is it obvious to your team when you need something to be completed and where it fits relative to other work you’ve asked them to do? Is it possible, for example, that you sometimes don’t distinguish between “urgent” and “important”? c Assess the way your team makes decisions and implements plans. Was every- one with a stake in the project and the outcome part of the conversation? Does everyone know Who is going to do What by When, and How we will follow up? Team Work c Ask yourself, “Am I communicating with my coworkers and supervisor in a way that gives them the information they need to do their jobs?”
STRUCTURE & CLARITY SELF-TALK other accomplish tasks and meet goals. “
My teammates and I know what our roles are, and we communicate effectively to help each
6 EXTENSION FOUNDATION/NTAE | HEALTHY TEAMS HANDBOOK
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