"I'd like to find a new job outside of economic consulting within the next year, but I don't know exactly what that is." - Jennifer, Married Professional read more
QUOTE :::
"The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary." - Vince Lombardi
Action is about translating the plan into results. This means taking action that:
Capitalizes on your known resources
Can be completed within your desired timeframe
Affects positive change towards creating more balance between the Balancing Points
Taken a step further, Maximum Balance is about recognizing and building upon the tasks and activities you're already doing or could easily implement, and extending these activities to another Cornerstone of your life. For example, building a relationship with a teammate into a sincere friendship gets you wins in both your Career and Relationships Cornerstones. Remember, ACT! isn't about doing more, it's about more balance.
Guidelines for Balanced Action
Always have a set of metrics for success that you review and agree to with your entire team.
Make sure you have both individual and group metrics and that the entire team contributes to their definition.
Set timelines to achieve those metrics and rewards for when you hit them. Get everyone to agree in writing.
During team meetings, rotate the person responsible for reporting on progress. This will drive new perspectives on success, failures, strengths and challenges.
Ask each team member to create a personal set of metrics for success that he/she shares with the entire team. Know what is driving each member of your team personally.
At the beginning of each project, have the team honestly assess their individual strengths and weaknesses such that you can pair up to avoid any gaps.
If your team is other parents, teachers or coaches, make sure you understand their individual motivations. What makes them 'tick'? This is critical because a non-workplace team is not motivated by salary or fear of unemployment.
At the beginning of any project, meet early and often. A slight deviation from course early on can have drastic effects later.
Plan for team-building time in any project plan. It will take some effort to get the engine running.
Face-to-face conversation, phone calls, e-mails and simple body language can all be positive and negative vehicles for communication.
Sample Tasks
Here are some sample tasks you could use to start acting. At the end of each day, write down the task you completed and check a box next to it. Every action counts.
Sample Task #1
Take one of your team members out to lunch and have a conversation without discussing work.
Sample Task #2
If you're a homemaker, coordinate a play group to help establish your neighborhood team.
Sample Task #3
Assign each team member an article relevant to the project and ask him or her to present key findings to the team.
Sample Task #4
Get started with the 3-day Getting Balanced program.
Click here to see an expanded list of sample tasks and view a printable version of Assess, Plan, Act! for Career-Team.
