Every team needs a Howie - Cultivated Management Newsletter
Hi and welcomd to this week's Cultivated Management newsletter.
I don't know where you all are in the world but spring is finally arriving here in the UK. At last. It feels like it's been a really long cold, wet winter period. It's amazing how the weather can affect the entire mood of a team or business!
There is no book or podcast of the week this week as I've been spending all of my spare time this week writing my new book! Details to come soon.
How?
Every team needs a Howie (or howy). You know.... the person who brings back down to earth those grand ideas and plans by asking "how are we going to do it?".
It's great to talk about "why" we're doing something. I love nothing more than a good purpose in life, but we must also know how we are going to achieve it. A strategy with no implementation is a wish.
If your team talk, discuss, plot, strategise and write epic goals but don't ask "how?" then get yourself a "Howie" - every team needs one.
Make sure your team as a Howie. Hire people who think big but can also tackle the how. With no Howie on the team you'll spin your wheels with excellent ideas and implementation that is raw and unplanned. Action orientated people need a list of stuff to get cracking on with - make sure that list is built around a solid Why and How.
If your management team don't have a Howie - become that person. Probably the worst level of the business to not have a Howie is management - especially if that management team don't include the really important people - those doing the work and who understand the work.
How will we implement agile when we don't yet have that culture and we don't have the support of the execs?
How will we solve this over-work problem when we don't have the money to hire more people?
How will we build a learning culture when our budget is zero?
A Howie is not a party pooper - they are not a naysayer or silent plotter - they just want to gain clarity on how we're going to rise to meet the how.
Every team needs a Howie.
Until next week.
Rob..