In the first 30 days with a new team, you have the most influence over the way your team thinks and acts. You can create excitement and alignment fast with thoughtful communication planning. Here's a 30-day plan with examples of powerful language and an expansive mindset.
by Stephanie Bickel
Day 1-5: Ignite the Team's Vision
Welcome the team: Personally introduce yourself as the leader, express your enthusiasm, and communicate your commitment to the team's success.
Share the team's purpose: Clearly articulate the team's mission, goals, and how it aligns with the organization's vision.
Team introductions: Facilitate introductions among team members, encouraging them to share their backgrounds, expertise, and aspirations.
Set expectations: Discuss team norms, ground rules, and performance expectations to establish a shared understanding of how the team will operate.
"Welcome, Warriors of innovation! We embark on a journey that shall redefine the very fabric of our industry. As your leader, I stand before you with unwavering commitment to our cause. Let us unite, for we are the architects of the extraordinary."
Day 6-10: Forging Bonds of Steel
Foster open communication: Encourage team members to express their thoughts, ideas, and concerns. Create an environment where everyone's opinions are valued and respected.
Develop relationships: Organize team-building activities to help team members connect on a personal level. This could include team lunches, social events, or icebreaker activities.
Encourage collaboration: Promote collaborative work by assigning team projects or tasks that require members to work together, leveraging each other's strengths.
"Innovation is fueled by collaboration. Together, we shall transcend the ordinary. Break bread and share your stories, for it is through understanding each other's passions that we unlock the true power of our collective genius."
Day 11-15: Roles that Shape Destiny
Define roles: Clearly outline each team member's roles, responsibilities, and areas of expertise. Ensure there is a mutual understanding of how each role contributes to the team's overall success.
Align goals: Collaboratively set individual and team goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART goals). Ensure they are aligned with the team's purpose.
"The gears of progress require alignment. Each cog within our team has a purpose, a vital role to play. Embrace your responsibilities, for it is through clarity of purpose that we orchestrate symphonies of success."
Day 16-20: Masters of Mastery
Identify training needs: Assess the skills and knowledge gaps within the team. Identify training opportunities or resources that can help team members enhance their capabilities.
Provide learning opportunities: Arrange workshops, seminars, or webinars to develop specific skills relevant to the team's work. Encourage a culture of continuous learning and growth.
"The pursuit of excellence knows no bounds. Identify the gaps in our knowledge, and let us fortify our arsenal of skills. Seek out the knowledge that elevates us beyond mere mortals. Innovation demands mastery, and mastery demands unyielding hunger for growth."
Day 21-25: Empowerment Unleashed
Delegate authority: Provide team members with autonomy and empower them to make decisions within their areas of responsibility. Trust their judgment and support them when needed.
Encourage innovation: Foster a culture that embraces creativity and innovation. Encourage team members to generate and share new ideas that can improve processes or outcomes.
"Courageously seize the reins of authority! Empowerment is the currency of the brave. Decisions are the fuel that propels us forward. Let go of the shackles that hinder creativity, and watch as our ingenuity ignites like a phoenix rising from the ashes."
Day 26-30: Feedback that Inspires
Regular team meetings: Schedule regular team meetings to discuss progress, challenges, and upcoming tasks. Allow team members to provide updates and share their accomplishments.
Provide feedback: Offer constructive feedback to team members, both individually and as a group. Recognize and acknowledge their efforts and achievements. Address any performance issues promptly and supportively.
"Within the crucible of our work, feedback is the crucible of transformation. I implore you, my fellow pioneers, to embrace the art of candid critique. Through open dialogue, we sharpen our blades of innovation, sculpting a future that knows no boundaries."
Beyond these 30 days, keep reinforcing and pulsing the messages and values.
"Let our actions resonate with the following principles: Lead with audacity, for the timid shall be forgotten. Be a beacon of inspiration, radiating unwavering dedication and unrelenting passion. Celebrate victories, both grand and small, as we inscribe our legacy upon the annals of innovation. Stand tall, warriors, as I champion your cause to the higher echelons of our organization.
Remember, my comrades, that within the crucible of greatness, the extraordinary is born. Together, we shall redefine what it means to innovate, to dream, and to revolutionize the very fabric of our industry. Onward, fearless pioneers, to a future that knows no bounds!"
If this language feels to extreme and exaggerated, ask yourself why. Can you go a degree more in this direction and still be authentic? Your new team needs to hear your vision and conviction. Your energy will be contagious.
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