Are Team Members Given Clear Priorities, Expectations, and Support?

While serving in the United States Marines Corps, I was taught a very important lesson: We needed to be prepared to go anywhere. At anytime. And the only way this was going to be possible, was to be an agile force. A thinking force. Conditions can change quickly on the battlefield, and Marines must adapt to meet those conditions with decisive but appropriate action. No two battles are identical, and no Marine prepares for only one type of fight. In a matter of moments, any situation can change.

Through my training and past experiences, I had to know how to react without hesitation.

Marines are taught that "Agile" is a mindset. Organizations must be open to change. They teach continuous delivery and continuous improvement. They require reflection and learning through failure. I remember hearing them say, "For our teams to be effective, every member is informed on the progress of the project and is empowered to make decisions on their own." Powerful statement. If Marines are expected to make quick decisions on the battlefield, they must first understand the mission. They must have a clear understanding of the priorities and expectations. Then, they must have the skills and abilities to make decisions on their own when necessary.

How does this translate to the business world? You too are building an agile force. A thinking force. Clear priorities, expectations, and support are imperative if you want to find success.

Have you ever sat through a meeting and noticed as soon as the meeting adjourned pockets of people would turn to each other and ask questions about what was just discussed? Maybe it was to clarify something, or make sure they understood what the next actions items are and who is responsible for each one. I know I have, and that’s why I try to avoid this scenario every chance I get. This same lack of clarity is not confined to just meetings. This type of confusion is also felt on the manufacturing floor, in the office, or anywhere else two or more people discuss the next steps to a project or process. Most leaders assume they have set clear expectations. In my experience I have found this to be one of the most poorly practiced aspects of leadership, when in fact it should be one of the most important.???

This is the reason we must be absolutely clear that the people responsible to carry out the action item, or task, really understand what is expected and required to successfully complete their piece of the plan. A lack of clear expectations is not only harmful to the performance and results within a team, but also negatively impacts teamwork and employee engagement. Unclear requirements can also lead to significant employee relation problems. Daily, we find ourselves in situations where leaders will need to set, agree on, and be guided by decisions made at other levels of the organization. These decisions, and the plans that stem from them, need to be executed as intended, and not left up to the interpretation of the team. This is essential if we are to build a team that respects one another, handles change during times of uncertainty, performs well under pressure, and most importantly, are all marching in the same direction toward the company’s true goals.

So how do we make sure our team has clear priorities and expectations? Make sure the actions and tasks are clearly defined. No one likes indecision when tasks are assigned, so make sure to fill in all the details while talking through the actions with the person responsible for the task. Write the actions out and assign dates for everyone to follow up with either a status update, or verification of completion. We also need to communicate our expectations and priorities relentlessly while asking if leadership support is needed to remove any road blocks, or hurdles, the team might be experiencing. Keeping our ears open and actively listening to our team is one of the best ways to support them throughout their progress.??

Finally, give your team members the support they need. This includes continued development of their skills and abilities. Don't train your team members to deal with only one type of fight. No two battles are identical. In a matter of moments, any situation can change. Empower your team to act swiftly and decisively when necessary.

In this week's episode of The Lean Solutions Podcast, Kevin Gausch and I discuss lean applied in different industries.?Specifically, the construction industry. His knowledge and stories help explain how lean can be applied outside manufacturing when practitioners truly understand the principles of continuous improvement.?