Habits 4-7

Aloha all,
Here are the next 4 habits (drum-roll). I know you've all been waiting anxiously for these :)

Habit 4: Think Win-Win - Seek agreements and relationships that are mutually beneficial. Meet DR GRAC - here's an acronym that can help create Win-Win performance agreements. Some organizations use this instead of performance reviews or as hiring contracts. Could be a good project planning/management tool - specific without being too complex. Each party involved needs to agree on all 5 elements.

1. Identify desired results - list a few key, clear, specific goals. List measures that will let you know whether or not you have achieved each goal. Assign a deadline and weight to each goal.


2. Define the guidelines - what are the standards and conditions that must be met?


3. Define the resources - what resources are required to complete this agreement (people, budget, tools)


4. Define accountability - how you will be account to each other for progress


5. Define consequences - Always think Win-Win. Define specifically and measurably how each party benefits from the agreement, as well as what will happen if the agreement is not fulfilled.

Habit 5 - Seek first to understand, then to be understood always practice empathetic listening:

Don't: Judge, Probe, Advise
Do: Reflect Content ("so you're saying . . ."), Reflect Feeling ("you feel frustrated about . . .")
Don't: Label, Use Comparative Language
Do: Think Win-Win, Describe Your Concerns, Use Specific Examples, Listen Empathetically

Habit 6: Synergize - to solve problems effectively; always do these two things habitually:

1. Seek out differences - don't just accept them: good leaders seek out opinions that differ from their own because they know that good ideas come from robust dialogue and debate not from "group-think."
   
2. Synergize to arrive at new and better alternatives - effective teams always look for new and better ways to achieve their goals. First they define criteria of success. Then they create prototypes-quick hypothetical solutions. They also insist on counter types, which are radically different proposals that turn things upside down. Ideally, they arrive at a "Third Alternative" -a solution that combines the best of every one's thinking.
   

Check out how this video to see on how they innovate and create at a company called IDEO! Awesome and inspiring!

Habit 7 - Sharpen the Saw - always treat everyone as whole people:

• The heart of a person is engaged by leveraging his or her passion and natural motivation.


• The mind of a person is challenged by tapping into the best talents and skills of that person.


• The body is cared for by having good working conditions and fair compensation.


• The spirit of a person is engaged fully in work they find meaningful and significant contributions they make to the larger good.

Thus, the importance of taking time to refresh, rejuvenate, reflect and relax as a team is as significant as how much work we accomplish.

Again although the workshop was geared toward managers, it is based on general habits of effective people. Hope you learned something new or validated something you already practice.
Kelly