“Let’s Go!” I yell promptly at 8:30 every day. As strong advocates for morning meetings, we recently reinstated the morning round up with our own staff – highlighting the day’s priorities (not just their to-do lists, but actual top level priorities). From the beginning, our goal was to cultivate an environment that yielded focus and respect; even focus and respect are not attributes incapable of burning out.
As I’m sure is true with yours, our staff is very busy each day. This meeting has to bring about more efficiency during the workday and has to build-up our staff. When revisiting this, I had to ask myself the following questions:
- Is this a good use of our time since our company is so busy?
- How can this 10-minute meeting set the course for our day? In some cases, our entire work week.
- Will our staff take the meeting seriously?
We set the following parameters:
- Each team member was to share the following: current day’s priorities, yesterday’s distractions, and yesterday’s measurable activity.
- By measurable activity, no one can state, “I was busy”, we’re looking for specifics. Example: 3 sales calls, 2 maintenance calls.
- Absolutely no sarcasm and no negativity
- We pick a word for the week and focus on the possible impact it can have in our company if applied.
https://youtu.be/h9FEvDAIIQE
What were the results?
- Our employees started the day feeling encouraged, not defeated.
- Comradery was fostered…this always leads to a better workspace.
- Each day began with focus and encouragement. The culture, though not tainted before the implementation of this practice has on most-occasions since, bent to the positive.
- Each person had a platform to share yesterday’s successes. Sometimes, we need to ring our own bell!
I recently read the following excerpt from Dave Kerpen on inc.com that validated my morning round table implementation:
“The difference between success and failure is a great team. Twelve years, two companies, 100 employees, and three times on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing companies later, I’ve learned that the only way to build a company with great success and scale is to build a great team. No matter how smart, talented, driven, or passionate you are, your success as an entrepreneur depends on your ability to build and inspire a team. A successful leader is one who can spur his or her team members to work well together toward a common vision and goals.”
The New Flat Rate is as strong as our best day as a team. Ultimately, if your staff is not feeling supported from within, productivity will suffer. Your bottom-line, ability to retain customers, and the internal health of the organization will be effected. The value of the circle is worth what it costs…which is about 10 minutes of your day. No matter the workload or environmental state of the staff to date, it takes a small degree of change for a great reward. Round them up, cultivate successful attitudes and priorities, and then send them out for a great day!
Danielle Putnam / President / The New Flat Rate
