According to researchers at the University of Tennessee, there are five components needed to build a healthy framework for negotiating agreements:
Trust
Resiliency
Communication
Team Orientation
Focus
Last week we explored the first three of these five elements which are foundational to building great partnerships. This week we’re looking at how the components of team orientation and focus work in 3to5 Clubs and can be applied to any business partnership of two or more.
#4 Team Orientation
Leaders of the group need to focus and direct individual goals and objectives into a cohesive group strategy. By finding the common ground among club members they are able to reinforce compatibility.
How can leaders help a Club build strong team orientation? Leaders can create a 2-page strategic plan for their club (click HERE for the Crankset Group tool). Most of the planning time should focus on clarifying the Club mission—the experience the club seeks to have every member experience. The 12/3/1 month part of the plan should set up specific waypoints to achieve Club goals for one-to-one meetings, guests and new members, lumberjack referrals, and business done.
#5 Focus
Leaders keep the club on track with the club mission. They are responsible for blending the individual BATNA/BMD into a corporate direction for the benefit of all stakeholders.
Leaders could use a tool like the Net Promoter Score (NPS) to track their progress toward their mission (click HERE for the NPS tool). The NPS asks a single question that is easy to understand and act upon. This one question is,
“On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely are you to recommend our Club to a friend or colleague?”
Those who answer 9 or 10 are your Raving Fans. Studies have shown that they are twice as likely as your Passives (those who answer 7 or 8) to recommend your club to friends. Those who answer 6 and less are unhappy/disengaged club members. They already have one foot out the door and are likely to take others with them.
The most important follow-up questions for leaders to ask themselves are:
“Why did I say [number]?”
“What do we need to do differently for me to give our club a ‘10’?”
Leaders can use this tool first within the leadership team. Then they can use it with their whole club. Doing so on a regular basis will allow them to keep a pulse on the degree of focus and the health of the club.
Toolkit:
Use the NPS tool as a discussion starter with your group or a potential partner. Ask yourself:
- “On a scale of 1 to 10, how likely are you to recommend Potential Partner A to a friend or colleague?”
- “Why did I say [number]?”
- “What do we need to do differently for me to give Potential Partner A a ‘10’?”
