Review and Reflect ... alone or with the team
Monday, December 19, 2016 at 1:06PM
The end of the calendar year brings many people to the point of wrapping things up, reviewing the year that's been and thinking about the year ahead.
(That is... if you can break from the cray-cray of deadlines hitting before holiday time or having less people in your team or on the task than you'd like!)
Whatever your state of mind - and work - this week and the next few, I've collected a few resources for you to review, reflect, read and ponder... when you're ready.
If not now, bookmark and save for when you're travelling, waiting, distracting yourself or wanting some insight.
thinking
I love me a visual map; and many a group or team I've worked with have benefited from being able to capture their story, the facts, their issues or the current situation too.
Once it's down on paper (or digital) they're able to see it. Once they can all see it, it's remarkable how quickly resolutions and fixes present themselves in the conversation. It's also way quicker to get people together and focused on something.
Here's one I prepared earlier! For you. 
I use this type of map and the headings of 'Less Same More' in workshops and keynotes to help people get actions down from their thinking and ideas. (This handles overwhelm and chaos well too!)
What do you want more, less or the same of...?
- LESS: stop or drop this stuff. Wind back, remove and reduce it.
- SAME: keep on truckin', keep going, keep moving with this stuff.
- MORE: ramp it up, do more of this, get or have more of this.
This is about you - what do you want less, same or more of in your life, in your work. It can relate to anything at all.
Fill in the spaces. I use dot points or key words to prompt me and capture my ideas. It becomes my personal visual plan and idea collection place just like a 'plan on a page'. It then goes up on the wall in my office or in digital/photo form on my phone.
Oh and there's a cheeky light bulb on the bottom right. I call that:
- AND, dot dot dot :... it's a little like 'How about this?' as if you were pitching to some big-time investor or director. What are some random, hopeful or dreamy things that would be interesting to look at or pursue further? Capture them right there.
Use this page with the team. Or use it alone. Perhaps with a partner or friend or the family. Chilled out one Sunday afternoon, fill it out. Kicking off a project with a new team, get them to tell you what they want more, less and same of.
It's a great way to review, it's a sweet start to planning; it's an even better conversation starter.
For all the times you think you can't get engagement with people, ask them to jot a few points down under each heading and you can have a conversation from there.
Review, reflect and then do something with this and the other resources here, below. In your own time....
