Yes, what I’m about to share with you will add one more thing to your list! I know, I know… you’re busy enough. However, there’s a BIG mistake most Leaders make that reduces traction towards project completion. You know like I know, many new professional endeavors will eventually succeed, but how they get across the finish line can be stressful, irritating, and can make you question your line of work.
Most Leaders mistakenly believe just because they said “It”, everyone got “It”! As a Leader, you know there was a meeting about “It”, and you said “It”; therefore, it’s logical to assume your People got “It” and are moving forward with the plan to bring “It” to fruition… right? Wrong!!! Yes, there are times when you have a Rockstar Direct Report that’s so on it. However, the truth is, even the best Professional Rockstars get swamped with daily tasks, bombarded post-meeting with other tasks, favors requested from Coworkers or Higher-Ups, they are asked for more from YOU, and let’s not forget… they’re human beings who may forget things from time to time, or may not be sure how to best prioritize the importance of the million tasks you, your boss, their coworker, and clients have deemed massively important. Let’s add the fact that 1-on-1 Meetings… especially effectively run 1-on-1 Meetings, are the most canceled and rescheduled meeting in most organizations.
Perhaps this makes more sense, why you’re going to add something quick, easy, and impactful to enhance Communication, Connection, Culture, & Results… A Leader’s Monday Morning Check-In (MMCI)!
The Method!
Whether your Team is In-House, Remote, or Hybrid, I suggest handling MMCIs via email. You’ve already had a meeting or meetings about the “It”. Having another in-person meeting or virtual call to check in begins the pattern of having meetings about meetings… Yuck!
Therefore, a short early Monday Morning Email tends to do the trick. Feel free to email your first MMCI, copy & paste it, and create a template to save in your notes. The questions you ask will not change, however a few individual comments definitely will, and I’ll explain shortly.
Lastly, who does you MMCI go out to? When you Lead a smaller Team, include everyone on one email. When you Lead multiple Teams, send them to the Teams separately with every Team Member of the Team Lead included. When you Lead Silos (one-person departments), include all Silo Leaders. It never ceases to amaze me how every Silo Leader feels their job is the hardest, they are doing the most, and no one else knows what they are doing, Lol! This method unifies Silo Leaders as a Team who will eventually need each other; enhancing Communication, Connections, and Culture will yield better Results!
The Content!
The content of the Monday Morning Check-In is simple and all of it is necessary:
The Greeting! – Let’s positively greet our People. I can’t wait to say, “Happy Monday and I hope Everyone had an awesome weekend! I’m excited to start another week and to be of impact for you and the world”. That may be a bit much for you; if it is, feel free to make it more of your own. The point is to be excited it’s Monday. As a Leader, how you choose to show up to your work, your life, and your relationships matters and sets a tone for others. Also, our job as Leaders is to sell our position. You can’t get promoted or move on, when no one wants your job because you’re miserable on Mondays, on your sixth marriage, and third heart attack… Be Mindful!
The P.O.W.! – You’re going to be tempted NOT to DO this part! Please don’t listen to your internal revolt and instead understand the P.O.W.’s benefit. “What’s everyone’s Positive of the Week?”. For me, professionally _____. Personally, _____.
It doesn’t have to be long, simply honest! Not only does it set the desired tone for positivity on a Monday (you know how most Employees feel on Sunday and how they look walking in on Mondays), but it also allows a connection between you and your People and Coworkers as they read what each other did, accomplished, and enjoyed. This is especially true regarding Remote Workers. They are now working with and for each other, instead of for themselves and some invisible entity!
The Questions! – After asking your Team their P.O.W., it’s time for the 4 impactful questions you will ask EVERY TIME:
- What are you working on or focusing on this week?
- What will be a WIN/s for you this week?
- Is there anything you need from me or any way I can help?
- Is there anything you need from anyone on the Team?
These questions never change, because they don’t have to! As a Leader, you’ll get to know their focus for the week. Is it aligned with recent meetings and the “It” you want them focused on?
Coworkers or Silo Leaders also get to see, acknowledge, and appreciate what everyone is focused on!
As a Leader, you’ll get to see what your People define as “A Win”. Does it align with your concept of a “Win,” enabling you to either celebrate their successes or assist them in reprioritizing?
Asking your People how you can help allows them to share how you can assist in reducing professional friction and removing obstacles holding them back. You may not have their expertise in an area, but you may have professional connections to make their WIN easier, faster, or better!
Lastly, “Is there anything you need from someone on the Team?”… this allows requests to be made in black & white and allows unification for traction on common goals. We’re all in this together and everyone is needed for the vision of the organization to be elite, not just one person or one department!
Possible Next Section!
I don’t always use the section of the MMCI that I’m about to share with you… and when I do, it’s imperative to include EVERY Team Member. When you only address one person… you’re effectively calling them out in front of everyone and you wouldn’t want that happening to you. So, what is The Possible Next Section?
- List all of your Direct Reports by name
- Say hello and Thank them for the work they’ve completed or are working on. This allows a great intro. It also allows them to share their efforts and wins with other Team Members!
- Finally, when you have a question about a project or task, now’s the time to ask or provide information they may need to best move forward for the week.
This section is not designed to be long; rather short, sweet, efficient, and done! Lastly, you can share a pic to conclude your Monday Morning Check-In… my pic has a saying about “Follow-Through”, hit send, and enjoy the replies that come in… your People sharing their P.O.W., their Plan for the week, their Win/s for the week, and if they need your help, or help from others!
As I mentioned, YES, it’s one more thing for you to do… but, what a thing it is; as it enhances Communication, Connection, Culture, & Results!
You now know A Leader’s Monday Morning Check-In, what was your Biggest Takeaway? What tool will you include in your Leadership Toolbox moving forward; making you more of a Complete Leader? Whatever your answer, be sure to schedule your epiphany into your phone or work calendar with notifications and alerts, so you can’t ignore what you know will make you great. Enjoy your Evolution!
“You can’t get promoted or move on, when no one wants your job because you’re miserable on Mondays, on your sixth marriage, and third heart attack… Be Mindful” – Andre Young
Written by: Andre Young
