When deadlines are being missed, when there is struggle among team members, when there are important tasks that are falling through the cracks, or when you know you are not working as efficiently or effectively as you could be, what can you do?
One of the most common solutions I hear to these kinds of problems is this: “we need to get clear about our roles and responsibilities”.
Unfortunately that may solve the problems temporarily, but it is rarely, if ever, a long term fix. The implied belief is that if our roles and responsibilities are clear, i.e., everyone knows what they are supposed to do, things will get done and run smoothly.
I say that belief is a myth.
Roles and responsibilities are a kind of boundary separating one persons role from another. They are useful when it comes to delegating tasks and managing work, but are in and of themselves insufficient to support and encourage teamwork.
If all we do is define the boundaries between people (in other words, my role or job vs. [click to continue...]
You may have noticed I have not been posting as frequently in the last few months. For those of you who follow me on social media I have been much less active. I have gotten enough nudges from people that I thought it was time to let you know what was happening and let you know that while I have been missing I have by no means checked out. In fact I have really missed writing and engaging with you.
Since February I have been challenged by a health issue. I am clearly moving in the right direction, but I do not know how long it will take to get back to 100%. My new mantra is “be the tortoise”. This has slowed me way down so I might as well embrace this new pace! Besides, what I have lost in terms of energy temporarily, I am hopefully gaining in wisdom permanently. Our circumstances can always provide a great access to learning the lessons we have resisted learning.
In the spirit of not wasting the learning opportunity of a breakdown here are a few of the lessons life has been teaching me lately. My experience reminds me of a wise saying: “if you know but you don’t do then you don’t know”. Hopefully these lessons will finally stick! [click to continue...]
