Tag: teaching

Thinking About the High Performers

I am blessed to have inherited a lot of high performers from my predecessor, who built and sustained a highly functioning team, often amid chaos.

I think about what that means to my team a lot. Being a bunch of high performers, they tend to get:

  • Stressful projects and goals: They often receive a lot of complex and risky projects and goals.
  • Meeting mania: Because my team is viewed as an essential part of the work (and they are) and can solve even the thorniest issues, their days are filled with back-to-back meetings.
  • Return-to-office pressure: Because they are “high profile,” my local team members are expected to work more from the plant, resulting in less flexibility. There are many good reasons for this, but that doesn’t make it more popular.

As I move through my 2nd quarter, here are the activities I am working to implement.

Establish a simple weekly team rhythm that drives intensity, not pressure. This is going to take a lot of effort with my peer teams. We need to build a rhythm where we know (to a much higher detail) the types of work we do. I want to move more to a model where we do prioritization on Monday, including defining projects, managing change controls, etc.; problem-solving midweek and a time we do a lot of execution (though frankly, that also happens on the weekend); and Friday is to review completed work, share feedback, and align on next steps. No matter what, we need to create a standardized calendar.

Measure the team’s motivation. As I get close to my 5-month mark, I will be asking the following questions:

  • What are teammates excited about working on in the second half of the year?
  • What might be causing them anxiety or pressure?
  • What habits does the team want to improve?
  • What are some specific ideas for improving those habits?
  • What did we do really well last quarter that we should maintain?

Continue to prioritize teaching. I will be scheduling a quarterly skill-check meeting with each of the team. During this conversation, I will help the individual reflect on their current skill goals and pick a new one if they don’t yet have any or have hit them all. We put a lot of work into this during my first quarter, and it is critical to continue to grow here.

Practice Joy. Practicing joy at work is important to maintaining a positive work environment and improving overall job satisfaction.

  1. Cultivate gratitude: Start each day by acknowledging something you’re grateful for at work.
  2. Celebrate small wins: Recognize and appreciate your accomplishments, no matter how small. This can boost your motivation and create a sense of progress.
  3. Find purpose in your work: Connect your daily tasks to the larger goals of your organization or to your personal values. Understanding how your work contributes to a greater purpose can increase job satisfaction.
  4. Find humor in daily situations: Look for opportunities to laugh and share light moments with your colleagues. Humor can help reduce stress and create a more positive work environment.
  5. Practice self-care: Prioritize your physical and mental health by getting enough sleep, eating well, and exercising regularly. When you feel good, it’s easier to experience joy at work.
Photo by Belle Co on Pexels.com

A CoP is Collaborative Learning, not Lecture

I was recently at an event for GAMP5 that billed itself as a community of practice. Instead, it was a bunch of lectures, a lot of being talked at, and no collaborative learning.

Collaborative learning is an educational approach where two or more individuals work together to understand a concept, solve a problem, or create a product. This method leverages the group members’ collective resources, skills, and knowledge, fostering an environment where participants actively engage with each other to achieve shared learning goals. It is the heart of a flourishing community of practice and something we should do much more as industry professionals.

Key Characteristics of Collaborative Learning

  1. Group Dynamics: Collaborative learning involves small groups, typically ranging from pairs to groups of no more than six members, where each member contributes to the group’s success. The interaction among group members is crucial, as it involves sharing ideas, evaluating each other’s contributions, and collectively solving problems.
  2. Active Engagement: Unlike traditional individual learning, collaborative learning requires active participation from all members. This engagement can take various forms, including face-to-face discussions, online forums, group projects, and peer reviews.
  3. Shared Responsibility: In collaborative learning, responsibility and authority are distributed among group members. Each participant is accountable not only for their own learning but also for helping their peers understand and succeed.
  4. Diverse Perspectives: Collaborative learning often brings together individuals from different backgrounds, promoting diversity of thought and fostering open-mindedness and acceptance.

Benefits of Collaborative Learning

  1. Enhances Problem-Solving Skills: Working in groups exposes participants to various perspectives and approaches, which can lead to more effective problem-solving strategies.
  2. Improves Communication Skills: Collaborative learning requires clear and effective verbal and written communication, which helps participants develop strong communication skills.
  3. Fosters Social Interaction: By working together, participants practice and enhance social skills such as active listening, empathy, and respect, essential for building strong personal and professional relationships.
  4. Promotes Critical Thinking: The need to discuss, debate, and defend ideas in a group setting encourages participants to think critically and deeply about the subject matter.
  5. Encourages Creativity: Exchanging diverse ideas and perspectives can inspire creative solutions and innovative thinking.

Theoretical Background

Collaborative learning is rooted in Lev Vygotsky’s zone of proximal development concept, which emphasizes the importance of social interaction and communication in learning. According to Vygotsky, learners can achieve higher levels of understanding and retain more information when they work collaboratively, as they can learn from each other’s experiences and insights.

Examples of Collaborative Learning Activities

  1. Think-Pair-Share: Participants think about a question individually, discuss their thoughts with a partner, and then share their conclusions with the larger group.
  2. Jigsaw Method: Participants are divided into “home” groups, and each member becomes an expert on a subtopic. They then teach their subtopic to their group members, ensuring everyone understands the topic.
  3. Fishbowl Debate: Small groups of participants debate a topic, with some members observing and taking notes. This method encourages active participation and critical thinking.
  4. Case Studies: Groups analyze and discuss real-world scenarios, applying theoretical knowledge to practical situations.
  5. Online Forums: Participants collaborate through discussion boards or live collaboration software, sharing ideas and working together on projects.