You’re back at your office or business on another Monday. Your team wishes it was still Saturday. They’re staring down five long days until it’s finally Friday again. And it’s your job to make sure that they meet sales, customer service, operational, or any other goals for the week. Here’s 10 things you can say to your team that will make this week productive and fun.
1. “How’s everyone doing?”
When your team knows (not thinks; don’t fake it) that you genuinely care about them, they will be much more interested in helping you meet your goals for the week. Show you care. It’s pretty easy and goes far.
2. “Here’s what we did well last week”
Show appreciation for and reflect on what went well last week. What goals did the team hit? What big (or small) accomplishments did they achieve last week? Your team will appreciate that you noticed, and they’ll get a reminder of what it feels like to do well and be recognized for it. Tell them what went well last week.
3. “Here’s how we can make this week better”
Keep a positive tone. They all know that not everything was spectacular last week. Make clear where the team needs to improve this week and exactly what they must do to make that happen.
4. “This is why we need to be awesome this week”
People are purpose-driven. Purpose, however, doesn’t have to mean ending hunger or creating world peace. Sometimes it just means having a simple, rational reason for doing what you are asking. As leaders, it’s easy to forget that we usually have more information and a deeper understanding of the business than those we lead. A very simple explanation of why we must hit the revenue target or any other goals goes a very long way in encouraging your team.
5. “This is how that thing will affect you. Yes you, Jerry”
Take #4 another level further. Specify how it will affect individual team members. Will it contribute to Ellen’s profit share? Will it affect Bob’s bonus? Will it make Sergio’s job easier in the future? Will it create fewer angry customer calls for Joanne to deal with? While your team wants to contribute to larger goals, they also want to know, on a practical level, how the heck these goals affect them individually.
6. “We can’t do this without you”
It’s true. If you could do it without your team, you wouldn’t have them. Let them know. Let them know you need them and, more importantly, that you know you need them. It requires a bit of humility and a bit of appreciation and, if you’ve also done a good job conveying #1, this will further encourage your team to reach your goals for the week.
7. “Here’s how I’m going to support you”
A huge and frequently overlooked part of a leader’s job is to provide support to those they lead. Your team will feel supported and empowered if you tell them very clearly what you are going to do to help them meet the goals you have created for them.
8. “This is exactly what I need from you this week”
Now that you’ve outlined how you are going to contribute to the week’s goals, you have earned the right to tell your team exactly what they must do to contribute to these goals. You have shown them that you appreciate them, that you need them, that you’ve got their back and that they have a personal stake in it. Now you can ask what you need from them.
9. “What questions do you have?”
Don not say “do you have any questions?” When you ask if there are questions, it implies that you think that you have explained it perfectly and that there are only questions because people aren’t smart enough to comprehend the perfectly-crafted prose you have just delivered. No matter what your intent, it’s important to understand that everyone has their own set of filters that they run everything through. By asking “What questions do you have?” you automatically assume there will be questions, making you seem so much more human.
10. “Here is how to reach me if you need me”
You’ve already covered everything that you expect to come up, but there are always unexpected issues, problems or situations that may require your attention or help. Reassure your team that if anything unexpected comes up, you’ll be there and here is how and when they can engage you. You protect your valuable time by setting certain times, methods, or channels through which your team contacts you.
The work your team does is largely a function of your leadership. Start each week off with these ten things to improve your team’s productivity and get more done each week. Imagine the compounding effects if you were to do this every week.
