Navigating the How for Game-Changing Performance

Your Weekly Inspiration with Lily Woi

A weekly newsletter inspires you to take action and unlock greater performance in your organisation, your team, your career and most of all in yourself. All in 10 minutes or less.

?? Focus of the Week: Navigating the How for Game-Changing Performance?

In the workplace, we often become engrossed in the WHAT - our tasks, targets, and tangible results. However, the true game-changer lies in the HOW.

Consider this: How many times have you experienced a meeting where the leader's body language or tone affected the atmosphere? Or witnessed a casual remark from a manager that completely shattered someone's confidence and motivation?

These actions, even if unintentional, speak volumes. They can sow seeds of doubt, erode trust, or stifle creativity, extending beyond one individual to ripple throughout the entire team and organisation.

Insight 1 - The Effect of Micro-Behaviors on Performance

As leaders, our seemingly insignificant actions, those barely noticeable micro-behaviors, wield significant influence. They shape the culture, impact performance, and enhance or hinder engagement and motivation.

Every action we take, regardless of its magnitude, holds significance. A study by the Harvard Business Review revealed that when leaders exhibit positive micro-behaviors, such as showing appreciation and being receptive to feedback, their team's performance can increase by up to 30%.

On the flip side, a study by the American Psychological Association indicated that employees who regularly encounter negative micro-behaviors are twice as likely to experience burnout and three times more prone to leaving their jobs.

Insight 2 - Breaking Down Silos

Now, let's apply the concept of focusing on HOW with the challenge of breaking down silos. We all understand the importance of cross-functional collaboration. However, the unfortunate reality is that many organisations still suffer from a silo mentality.

Individuals and leaders become fixated on achieving their respective functional goals at the expense of the business outcomes, stifling innovation and creating inefficiencies that ultimately contribute to missed opportunities.

A few deeply ingrained factors that keep this a challenge:

?? The perception that collaborating with other functions will only hinder, rather than expedite, their work?

?? Lack of real understanding of what each function actually does and the expertise they can offer

?? Everyday work pressures that limit headspace and capacity to step back, see the bigger picture and recognise opportunities to cross-collaborate

?? Lack of clear accountability framework. When we don't know who is responsible for what, it becomes difficult to communicate and cooperate effectively, leading to missed deadlines and suboptimal outcomes.?

?? Poor communication practices that reinforce barriers and miscommunications

So What? Here's one thing you can do now:???

Go beyond just establishing a common goal.

Get into the nitty-gritty details of how each function will work together to achieve the business outcomes. This will flesh out any misconceptions and paint a more nuanced understanding of the interconnectedness of the different functions.??

Sometimes, it's easy to agree at a surface level that collaboration is needed and leave it there. However, the devil is in the details, and without addressing the "how" of collaboration, teams become less willing to cross-collaborate. Remember, it's not just about the "what."

Do this well, and I can guarantee you'll see a marked improvement in your collaboration efforts.

Ready to Take Action??

Don't let micro-behaviors and missed opportunities hinder your organisation's potential. If you're ready to elevate your team's performance and break down silos hindering your success, take the first step today. Get in touch with us, and let's redefine your approach to leadership and teamwork.

Shift your focus from goals to the transformative HOW. It's not solely about the final outcome; it's about embracing the journey. Together, let's unlock your organisation's full potential.

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Warm regards,

Lily

Lily Woi - People & Culture Catalyst?

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