A simple solution to small problems (with a big impact)

I’m hard at work on the Teams Learning Library and PLC.

When I’ve created a new offering in the past, I’ve shared my process on Instagram. I’m taking a prolonged (potentially indefinite) break from that platform, so if you want to follow along, join me on LinkedIn. I’ll also share some process notes in this newsletter over the next two months since I know behind-the-scenes content can be a lot of fun. 
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Here’s a peek from today: 
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One of the five Leadership Capacities that the Teams Skill Sessions bring to life is called Implement Systems and Structures. Spoiler alert: there are SO. MANY. OPTIONS. You could spend an entire year just learning about systems and structures, let alone implementing them! 

This is why leading a thriving team requires the wisdom and discernment to select and implement only the ones that will serve you. That’s one of the many things I’m setting you up to do with the Learning Library and PLC. 

In one of the Skill Sessions I created this week, I introduced a system we created at Bright Morning: A groan tracker. 

It’s as unconventional as it is useful. Reflecting on all the things it made possible for us over the past year made me want to share it with you. 
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Here’s how it works: 

1. We have a Google sheet for our Leadership Team where we log “groans.” For each groan, we capture the date added, who added it, what the groan is, any context, and our next steps 
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2. Every time one of us experiences a “groan” moment– little frustrating things–we add it to the tracker
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3. At every LT meeting, we review “groans.” We assess for trends, discuss implications, and determine the next steps – both to address the immediate “groan”, and more importantly, to make changes to our systems and structures that prevent the issue from happening again 
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This allows us to: 

• Free up our mental and emotional load: Knowing there will be a time to discuss and solve in the future means we can be clear and present in the now
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• Increase awareness and alignment across the LT: We have a productive way to quickly share and process issues we might otherwise not be aware of. This is crucial because oftentimes, the next steps to prevent the issue from happening in the future require multiple people to shift their approach
   
• Spot trends and systemic needs: There are almost always trends and underlying causes at play. Instead of just addressing the one-off issue, we solve for root causes 
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• Celebrate: Leaders spend a good amount of time responding to problems. Having all of the issues we’ve successfully addressed captured provides a meaningful record of ways we’ve contributed to making our team to be higher functioning 
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If you are experiencing “groans,” try a groan tracker. And if you want to learn additional systems and structures that will help you thrive, the Teams Learning Library and PLC will be your favorite thing of 2025! 

P.S. You don’t need to be a team leader to make a groan tracker work for you. The same idea can apply to your work as an individual or to any other partnerships or groups you’re a part of! 

Keep Learning

• Subscribe to my Weekly Wisdom Newsletter to get content like this sent straight to your inbox
• Transform your leadership skills with our comprehensive year-long program, delivering everything you need to build and lead a thriving team. Register for the Teams Learning Library and PLC.
• Explore our 2-day The Art of Coaching Teams workshop   

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