Team Development

Like it or not, September is around the corner, and it always seems to bring with it a sense of renewal; it’s a time to pull up your socks, sharpen your pencils and get back to your work with new fervour. At Women of Influence we’re doing that with a commitment to living as the women we want to be, setting goals in the short and long term (read: big dream!) and always showing up like you mean it.

How do we do it? Monthly development meetings for everyone!!

Every quarter, we all get a one on one meeting to evaluate where you are, where you want to be, and plan out what you are going to do to close the gap. It typically starts by laying out the facts:

Current role: (insert your title and main job function here)
Short term goal (1-3 years): What is the next step you want to obtain in your career; promotion, raise, switch? Name it exactly. (and always good to ask yourself why you want it)
Long term goal (5-10 years + if you can see that far!): What’s the big dream vision; corner office, small business owner, or if you are, purchasing a brand you’ve always admired, gaining some International experience?

Now for the plan, map out what the gaps are in your experience or vision between where you are now and where you would like to be, and each month give yourself one TANGIBLE item to close that gap, and sprinkle in some personal goals for good measure to keep you happy and motivated along the way.

Here’s what our Quarterly Development template looks like:

Short term:
– Business Development: Develop pitch, practice and then implement 100 cold calls
Long Term:
– Leadership: Identify a project or community role that you could lead to gain such experience, seek out the position, acquire the position
– Education: Research, plan a time, and the take continuing education

Personal development:
– Get fit: Sign up, train and run a 10k
– Cooking classes: Sign up, take, and cook a new dish for friends at home

And, no plan is complete without a reward, and a consequence, and someone to keep you accountable. Some of the best rewards we’ve dolled out are:
– $250 to a 5 star restaurant
– House warming present
– Points to travel to London on vacation
And some of the best consequences:
– 6 hours of filing in the storage room
– Daily coffee runs for the office
– Financial Contribution to the office ‘pot’ for emergency drinks or manicures