Are you a supporting team member who is tasked with both planning ahead and answering the phone every time it rings? In The Together Teammate, The Together Group Founder and CEO Maia Heyck-Merlin delivers a step-by-step action plan for school and nonprofit behind-the-scenes team members who keep things running smoothly! With clear advice, samples from operations and support roles, reflection questions and modifiable templates, this book will help teammates to strengthen their systems and keep all the trains running on time!
Readers will also find: - Strategies for refining their organizational and time management systems in order to best support the missions of their organizations - Techniques for planning ahead and prioritizing accordingly - Ways to juggle multiple proactive projects and maintain strong customer service
A comprehensive and practical guide for anyone who works behind-the-scenes in a mission-driven environment, such as nonprofits, schools, and foundations, The Together Teammate will also prove invaluable for project managers, IT associates, office managers, finance coordinators, executive assistants, chiefs of staff, and anyone who has both proactive and responsive aspects to their roles.
Table of Contents
Section 1: Take Stock: Know Your Role and Set Your Priorities 1
Chapter 1: Introduction - The Who, What, and Why of Togetherness for Teammates 3
What Is Togetherness,
Anyway? Why This Book Matters to Me
Who, Specifically, This Book Is For
Why Togetherness Matters Behind the Scenes
Together Try- Its
How This Book Is Arranged
How To Make The Most of This Book
Let’s Get the Together Party Started!
Chapter 2: Get Crystal Clear - Roles, Priorities, and Targets, Oh My! 17
What Is Your Actual Job? Get Clear on the Outcomes and Inputs
Define Success in Your Together Teammate Role - Set Those Priorities and Targets
Get Your Own Priorities in Order
Track for Yourself and Share Progress
Year- at- a- Glance - Map It Across a Calendar
Shelly’s Year-at-a-Glance Eryn’s Year-at-a-Glance
Build Your Year- at- a- Glance
Turbo Togetherness
Manager Moment
Together Tour: Ashley 37
Together Teammate Self-Assessment: Consider Your Current Organizational Tools, Habits, and Routines 39
Section 2: Get Yourself Together: Create Your Together Tools 43
Chapter 3: Look Far Forward - Create a Comprehensive Calendar 45
Why Invest in a Long- Term Calendar?
Comprehensive Calendar Samples
Select a Calendar Tool
Build Your Own Comprehensive Calendar
How to Use Your Comprehensive Calendar
Turbo Togetherness
Chapter 4: Build a Long- Term List - Yup, This Is Everything! 61
Why Keep a Long-Term List
Long-Term List Samples
Select Your Long-Term List Tool
Build Your Long-Term List
Routines to Make Use of Your Long-Term List
Turbo Togetherness
Manager Moment
Together Tour: Kevin 80
Chapter 5: Break Down the Big Stuff - Project Planning 83
Determine What Needs a Project Plan - and What Doesn’t
Create a Project Summary
Project Plan Samples
Build Your Project Plan
Communicate About the Project With Others
Plan for the Unexpected Because It Always Happens - Trust Me
Integrate with Your Together Tools
Turbo Togetherness
Manager Moment
Chapter 6: Fill with Staples, Make Room for Snacks - Build a Weekly Worksheet 109
The Purpose of Planning for a Week
Components of a Weekly Worksheet
Weekly Worksheet Samples
Personalize Your Weekly Worksheet Tool(s)
Practice Building Your First Weekly Worksheet
Put Your Weekly Worksheet into Action
Turbo Togetherness
Chapter 7: Host a Meeting with Yourself - and Prep for the Week Ahead 131
Meeting with Yourself: The Why Meeting with Myself Checklist Samples
Build Your Own Meeting with Myself Checklist
Create the Conditions to Successfully Meet with Yourself
Communicating After Your Meeting with Yourself
Turbo Togetherness
Manager Moment
Together Tour: Brett 153
Put It All Together: Build Your Together System 155
Chapter 8: Get Those Inboxes in Check - Set Up Your Digital Life 159
Set Up Your Inboxes for Success
Get Your Digital Documents in Order
Dealing With All That Other Digital Clutter
Turbo Togetherness
Chapter 9: Plan for the Pivot - Deal with the Daily Deluge 175
The Innocent Interruption
Move Swiftly Through Your Inbox(es)
Systematically Capture Incoming New Requests
Pause To Plan Your Pivot - and Then Communicate
Turbo Togetherness
Manager Moment
Together Tour: Fiama 203
Section 3: Get the Team Together: Teammate Tricks To Move the Work Forward 207
Chapter 10: Craft Clear Communications to Move Others to Action 209
What Methods Does Your Organization Use to Communicate?
Write Your Messages with a Bias Toward Results
Send the Newsletters, Memos, and Notes - Oh, My!
Turbo Togetherness
Manager Moment
Chapter 11: Make the Most of Your Meetings - Before, During, and After 229
Get Clear on Your Role in Each Meeting You Attend
Make the Most of Meetings With Your Manager
Manage Meetings for a Group or Team
Planning for the Next Several Meetings - And Not Just Today’s!
Take Notes in Meetings - And Own the Follow- Up
Be the Meeting Manager - Own the Meeting Start to Finish
Turbo Togetherness
Manager Moment
Chapter 12: Peek Around the Bend - Forecasting into the Future 261
Supporting Others to Forecast
Support Stakeholders with Forecasting
Turbo Togetherness
Together Tour: Lola 274
Chapter 13: Systems Spotting - If You See Something, Say Something! 277
Turn Up Your Systems Antennae
Turn Pain Points into Smooth Systems
Create Systems to Support Other Humans
Shannon’s Supply Order Form
The Call to Codify - Why?
Turbo Togetherness
Manager Moment
Chapter 14: Own the Outcomes: Take Charge, Especially When You Are Not the Boss! 297
What Is Owning the Outcome and Why Does It Matter?
Ask Questions to Clear the Cobwebs (Aka Get Clear on the Outcome)
Track Progress Toward the Outcome
Turbo Togetherness
Manager Moment
Together Test 314
Chapter 15: Togetherness Is a Journey, Not a Destination 317
Recall the Meaning of Your Work
Walk the Togetherness Path with Others
You Are Now a Together Teammate! (You Probably Already Were)
Total Together Tours
Goodbye, Be Well, and Be Together
Contributors 327
Acknowledgments 329
About the Authors 331
Index 333
