When you target working with the best so you can become your best, you always have one question that is top-of-mind. “Who are the best of the best in our organization?” Why, how, and when did they accomplish this?
The key to upskilling and reskilling for the post-pandemic workplace starts with discovering who your best workplace colleagues are. Even if you currently do not work with them at all. Importantly, your first one millimeter step forward starts by making the decision to ask that one “best of the best” question.
Does targeting working with the best, and asking that question, intimidate you?
Think again from the perspective of that “best” individual. Would you/they decline an invitation from another employee to have a conversation about why you/they are the best of the best? Of course not! You would accept their flattering invitation and probably wonder what type of conversation you both will have. You just may discover that this “best” colleague does not consider him or her self to be the best of the best. In fact, they just take what they do for granted.
Now, how to structure that first, introductory conversation so it is worthwhile for you both. Utilize Voice of the Customer methodology. Develop a conversation guide targeting working with the best. Not yet familiar with this methodology and questioning pattern? It becomes your guide to turning your job from a same-as-everyone else commodity into your own best means of distinction. And it also becomes your guide for cross-functional team leadership, moving forward. Contact me here to get started.
Deploying this reproduceable professional development strategy creates a network of cross-functional colleagues. Not only that. You all begin to learn more about how your specific areas of functional expertise complement each other’s. Plus, you develop into go-to resources for one another. Also, your cross-functional network can identify professional opportunities you otherwise would never know about.
Working with the best so you can become your best professional self starts with taking that first, one millimeter step forward. And asking questions you are not asking right now with new methods and tools to get you to where you really need to go. Together. Discover a lot more about yourself in the process. Then, pay your professional progress one millimeter forward.
Planning your next team, corporate or association meeting? Searching for a one-on-one catalyst to get you unstuck? Engage me to present a One Millimeter Mindset ™ program! Delivered virtually or in-person. Contact me here.
Babette Ten Haken | Change Catalyst | Purpose-Driven Professional Innovation | Cross-Functional Team Leadership | Trust-Based Client Retention | In Person & Virtual Speaker, Consultant, Coach, Author |
Babette Ten Haken, Founder & President of One Millimeter Mindset™ Speaking & Consulting, catalyzes trust-based, purpose-driven, cross-functional leadership. She leverages Voice of the Customer and storytelling to translate across communication and collaboration disconnects impacting successful business outcomes across people and professional disciplines. Babette is a cross-functional business-oriented STEM professional, qualitative Voice of the Customer facilitator, and Six Sigma Green Belt (Quality). She is a member of the ASQ, SHRM, PMI, the National Speakers Association and holds degrees from Washington University MO and University College London UK. Her playbook of cross-functional collaboration, Do YOU Mean Business? is available on Amazon.com. Contact Babette here. Image source: Adobe Stock.
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