Confusion exists in many enterprises about who is responsible for whom, who is
to do what, who has authority over this or that, who is to blame, and which
deliverables are needed to ensure a successful job.

A simple concept called “A Team of Two” quickly reduces confusion down to a
much better order. Here is how it works.

Every business situation is viewed as a team of two: one worker and one
supervisor.

1. When a problem arises, the team of two must ask: “What does this team of
two have to do to move things, problems or a situation forward?” It is
about ‘us’, not ‘you’ – a team of two. There is no room for blame – but
rather positive action to move things forward.

2. Since it is a team comprised of supervisor and worker, it is the job of the
worker to please the supervisor – i.e. provide what the supervisor expects.

3. Therefore, it is the job of the supervisor to inform the worker, clearly, as to
what is expected.

4. Just as important, it is the job of the worker to figure out what the
supervisor expects, to enquire, adjust, and adapt. It is that simple. Why the
worker? Because it is the worker that stands to suffer most if the job does
not work out. This is not ‘fair’ or ‘right’ but it is a simple fact of the
hierarchical situation. (Not unlike the contraception issue between men
and women)

5. The supervisor should rate each employee weekly, if the supervisor is
pleased or not, with the worker’s labor that week. And, if the supervisor is
not pleased, the supervisor must discuss immediately why not, giving the
worker important feedback and a chance to adjust with that new
information.

6. It involves delegation, training, mentoring, and honesty by the supervisor.

7. It involves not trespassing onto other teams of two, especially by
supervisors two levels up.

8. With a team of two, there is no confusion of who reports to whom and who
has to provide results to whom.

9. The entire company is nothing but a set of teams of two.

Bill

 

Seminars
Spring 2014
8 am till 1 pm
Sheraton Ottawa Hotel
Best-Kept Management Secrets $525
A mini-version of the $10,000 Practical MBA by CCCC
A 3-part seminar combined (or, each session as a stand-alone)
April 2, April 30th and May 28th 2014
$250 for one session, $400 for two sessions, or $525 for all three sessions
For information, call (613)-232-1243 or email [email protected]