Lessons from a Paper Clip
By Susan D. Rostkoski, Principal Consultant
My thoughts this month were generated by the lowly paper clip, an item we take so much for granted that it is nearly imperceptible in our daily lives. Yet, when I looked around my home office and realized how many paper clips (big, small, various colors, different shapes) I have used to bind together various documents, it seems to me that we ought to have a holiday celebrating this hard-working yet nearly invisible tool.
The first patent for a bent wire paperclip was created in 1867, given to Samuel B. Fay. It was created as a device to hold tickets or tags onto fabric so as to not leave holes. The patent also noted it could be used to hold papers together, but that wasn't its primary purpose.
It wasn’t long before paper clip became a staple of office culture and remain so until today, 156 years later. They perform a necessary office function--keeping papers together on a temporary basis--that few if any other products can do so effectively and cheaply.
It seems there is a parallel here: identifying what “clips” your team together—the hidden culture that we mostly don’t notice if it is working at its intended purpose. Herewith some thoughts to check in on with your team.
1) Do team members feel as though their work has a purpose, that what they do contributes to the end goal—and they know what that end goal is?
2) Are team members able to rely on each other to meet their commitments and maintain high standards?
3) Are there clearly defined goals, roles, and responsibilities for everyone in the organization and are those shared across teams?
4) Can everyone communicate openly and frequently?
5) Is a culture of accountability and support fostered throughout the organization?
6) Do team members have confidence in their leader?
7) Are there policies in place that support empathy, trust, respect, and support?
8) Do staff see actionable items and follow up when they are asked for their opinion?
There are many tools available (see Google) to measure how these seemingly intangible factors are affecting your staff, the organization’s effectiveness, and the larger community’s view of your work.
Having experienced this sort of assessment in several settings, I recommend you START SMALL. Try a pilot project and understand that this will be an ongoing process once you see the benefits you can reap from implementing it.
And finally, during this season of thanks-giving, be sure to take a moment to thank each team member for everything they do in support of your mission.
As always, please contact us with any questions you may have, or if we can help you accomplish your mission (www.strategic-cc.com).