Outline Expectations
- Clarify each team member's responsibilities for accomplishing objectives.
- Develop job descriptions that are distinct and specific, not vague and broad. Involve the staff in constructing the descriptions. Review and revise them often. Knowing who is supposed to do what reduces conflict in the workplace.
- Clearly communicate policies, procedures and guidelines, as well as priorities and timelines.
- Make expectations known for job behaviour and attitude. Set standards for performance.
- Spell out the expectations of your clients.
- Explain and answer questions until expectations are perfectly clear.
- Hold others accountable for performance at the level you've outlined. Provide timely feedback about performance.
Make Appropriate Work Assignments
- Distribute responsibilities so that all bases are covered and efforts aren't duplicated.
- Redirect work that has not been as productive as planned.
- Keep the workload for each individual challenging yet fair.
- Be available to discuss problems with assignments and to explore solutions.
Translate Tomorrow's Vision into Today's Activities
- Make sure everyone understands, and feels a part of the organisation's mission.
- Establish short and long-term goals that are consistent with the mission. Continuously track progress.
- Constantly evaluate systems and processes. Make modifications that are in line with the direction of the organisation.
- Plan times for team members to report their individual work status, ultimately shaping a comprehensive view of the group effort.
- In planning the steps necessary to complete a project, incorporate a series of checkpoints leading up to the final deadline.
- Plan for, and make available, all necessary resources.