For you children of the 80’s and 90’s you know the title of this post to be from the classic (well, depending on your version of classic) song “Ice, Ice Baby” from Vanilla Ice. If the hook of the song is stuck in your head now, like it is in mine, I’m sorry!
So why am I quoting Vanilla Ice?
Here’s why: people ask me to all the time about how to help them get along with others; or they ask me to work with their teams to help them connect and communicate better. One of the hot button topics I’ve been speaking on lately is creating a great organizational culture. Everyone knows culture is important-but what can you do to create a great culture?
SO….what can you do to be a great leader; a great manager; a great co-worker; a great teammate?
Stop! Collaborate and Listen.
Let’s break it down while the DJ revolves it … (sorry, couldn’t resist.) The first thing we can all do is STOP! Once you’ve stopped ask yourself these questions:
- Am I being a great leader?
- Am I being a great teammate?
- Am I being a great co-worker?
- In the areas where I’ve said “yes” what do I need to do to keep being a great leader, teammate, co-worker, associate etc.
- If something inside you tells you that you have some “opportunities for growth” in an area-congratulations on being honest and self-aware! So ask yourself, “What is one thing I can do to be a great associate? Leader? Teammate?”
Collaborate
This word means that you need to work with people to accomplish all you need to in a day. In other words you need people and people need YOU! The fact is you have blind spots that other people see and you see other people’s blind spots! Great team cultures have a spirit of collaboration infused throughout them.
Does this mean that every project on your team has to be a team effort? NO! Not at all. Of course, everyone has a lane that they’re running in and it IS important that everyone knows what lanes are their’s; what they’re supposed to do; and that they do what they’re supposed to do!
So, NO the entire team doesn’t have to weigh in on the font used in a document, or where you’re eating lunch today, or what brand of paper towels you order for the office. However, there does need to be an openness to collaborating with others; working with others; learning from others and mentoring others. Believe me, it’s worth it.
Listen
After studying people for over 15 years I am convinced that people just want to be heard. One of the most powerful things you can do for people is to simply listen to them when they’re taking to you. Here are some things that can help people feel like you’re really listening to them:
- Put the phone down when in a conversation with someone
- If you’re on the phone with someone, don’t “multitask” while on the call
- Ask good questions
- Be slow to offer your opinion
- Be quick to empathize and acknowledge their experience (even if you don’t agree with it!)
- Follow Stephen Covey’s famous saying, “Seek first to understand-then be understood.”
Follow these simple steps and you’ll be “rollin’ in your 5.0” on your way to developing and being a part of a great culture at work!
