Team of Two
This tool improves performance, communication, organisational effectiveness and job satisfaction.
The idea
Much of the business of an organisation takes place between pairs of people. These interactions can be positive and developing or frustrating and destructive. You can improve them with this simple tool.
“Team of two” works well with any two people who work together. It is excellent for consultants and clients. It will even work for life partners.
It does not work when the relationship is dysfunctional, so either party would rather have a battle than do anything to improve it.
The method
Each person writes down 1) how they could help the other person and 2) How they think the other person could help them.
The hypothetical example of a manager and secretary will make this clearer.
Manager’s list
| Things I, the manager, could do to help you | Things you, secretary, could do to help me |
| Let you know where I am going when I leave the office. | Let me know what you need from me so you can give me the best help. |
| Stop giving long urgent tasks after 4 pm | Help me be more organised in my work |
Secretaries’ list
| Things I, secretary, could do to help you | Things you, manager, could do to help me |
| Talk to other secretaries on the site to see if they have good ideas we could use | Listen to me when I am overloaded |
| Filter your emails, and deal with routine ones. | Help me understand your priorities. |
The people share their lists and then decide what to do.
A person may say: –
- “Thanks, please do that. It will help a lot.”
- “Of course, I will do as you ask”. The request is straightforward and gives an immediate benefit.
- “I can’t do that because……”. The request might violate your values by being (say) unethical, or it might be politically unacceptable or take too much time.
- “I would be prepared to meet your request if you would help me with this one of mine”. The request might demand work or a change of attitude. You would both win eventually.
- It helps people follow through with their decisions if they record and preferably display their agreements.
- Play the negotiation straight. If you use tactics or manipulation, people will not use the method again. They will also become suspicious of all the management techniques you use.
- Make your requests small, precise and doable. It is more valuable to ask someone to say “Hello” in the morning than to “Be nice to me”.
- Aim for equity in the negotiations. If people “give in” to every demand, they will feel exploited later. People who want something for themselves for everything they give will lose co-operation. People will think they are mean.
- Give the process enough time. It may be the first time people have talked directly about how they work together.
Workshops
I have used these ideas in workshops for secretaries/PAs and managers. The exercise quickly led to free, open and positive discussions and decisions about all aspects of the work together, from day to day, filing etc., and to be strategic about priorities. One frequent decision was for the PAs to attend meetings with the manager so they would understand more about the manager’s work and thus be able to make better decisions about what was necessary.
Finally
Would you please play with these ideas and use them in any way that makes sense? If you stick to giving and receiving practical help and treating both parties fairly, it will work well if the people want to make their relationship work.