In our last email, I shared how to build an annual plan. Building a plan is one thing, but running it is another. How do you practically do this without bogging down your team with long emails or unhelpful “status meetings?” The answer is: with intentional and strategic communication.
Here are a few ways Way Forth intentionally communicates to stay connected on projects.
15-minute Stand-up Meetings
This is a classic. In this meeting, the project team gathers with the task list displayed to answer a few questions, which largely boil down to:
What are you working on today?
What did you finish yesterday?
Do you see any potential blockers or concerns ahead?
Each person tells the team what they’re working on, which often triggers a thought, question, or insight for someone else.
Slack Check-ins
When the 15-minute stand-up meeting isn’t practical, you can replicate it by creating a Slack-check-in channel. Every day each team member responds to the questions (above) at the start of their business day. (Yes, even if you're in different time zones. 🙂). You can even set up a daily auto-reminder on Slack to prompt the team.
Weekly or Bi-weekly Meetings
I’m a devout detractor of the “status meeting." You know the one I’m talking about. The meeting where the whole team attends, each person speaks for five minutes, no one pays attention until it’s their turn to talk, and nothing gets done? Biggest waste of time. EVER!
But productive, problem-solving, solution-defining meetings are fan-stinkin’-tastic! And you should have them regularly.
Free Meeting Resources From Way Forth
Need some practical meeting how-tos and tools? Check out our Way Forth Learning video, “Running a Meeting People Won’t Dread,” or help yourself to any of our meeting templates.
On the journey with you,
