As a newlywed and a fresh stepfather, I stumbled through some missteps that culminated in my stepson throwing hot pizza in my face before moving out. Three months later, when he returned, my spouse, he, and I found a solution that worked. We crafted agreements that laid the foundation for a healthy, functioning family. Adapting and revising those agreements became crucial as our needs evolved. Our son has long since moved out, he’s now a married man who has blessed us with four grandcats instead of grandkids.
Whether in our families or our businesses, we’ve all faced our versions of “pizza in the face.” The key, as I’ve seen and experienced, lies in setting and updating agreements as needs change.
In today’s world, more organizations, businesses, and teams are transparently sharing the agreements governing their behavior with customers, staff, vendors, and communities.
So, what agreements work best? Focus on:
- Addressing the needs of different stakeholders.
- Strengthening unity among teams.
- Recognizing that we’re stronger together, with the power to uplift others.
- Supporting the use of skills and talents, especially those that align with the vision.
- Establishing protocols for addressing imperfect behavior/performance, reinforcing our strength in unity, imperfections, and all.
Consider:
- What agreements are needed to build trust with all stakeholders?
- How can you empower your staff and teams to collaboratively set agreements for effective teamwork and performance?
- What binding agreements are essential for fostering cohesion within your teams and your business?
I learned the hard way – through a hot pizza to the face. Now, I’m committed to ensuring that business agreements prevent office pizza fights!
Chuck Scharenberg, the Founder of More Profit More Freedom, a consultancy that empowers first-year C-suite leaders to make their mark; building cohesive teams and sustainable infrastructure that scale their businesses.