“Crew Time!”- Those were the first set of words I heard coming through the intercom my first day on the job at Pay Plus Benefits, nearly two years ago. I remember being extremely curious as to what type of roll-call entitled such an early announcement. It was after 9 O’clock in the morning. To fulfill my intense desire to know what was going on, I walked to the main office space where everyone was huddled around each other; eager faces lit up. It was then I finally understood. This was a stand-up meeting, and not the typical sit around the conference table meeting.
Now, two years later, I recognize how easy it is to implement these meetings a couple times a week. It is extremely helpful, not to mention beneficial for any company!
So what is a stand-up meeting and why do we call it Crew Time, you may ask?
A stand-up meeting is simply done standing up and is meant to be short. Team members are given the opportunity to give a quick status update and solve current problems in order to get the entire team on the same page. Such collaboration between staff improves awareness, performance, and leads the team toward the same direction or common goal.
Stand-up meetings at Pay Plus Benefits began even before I started working here; however, the name Crew Time was fairly new and was inspired by this motivational quote:
“Getting every person in our company to row in the same direction will allow us to dominate any industry, in any market, against any competition, at any time.”-Unknown
According to the dictionary, a crew is made up of the people who sail or operate a ship or boat. Hence, our crew time cheer “Keep Rowing!”
As you may have noticed, this short clip really captures the essence of rowing and teamwork. This team has the ability to work together towards a common vision, getting everyone rowing in the same direction. Without the effort of all team members, the boat would not go far. Similarly, our stand-up meetings are very effective because they continually remind the team what direction we are heading.
So what is the purpose of our Crew Time and how do we keep it going?
Well this really comes down to four objectives:
- Set direction and focus
- Strive for effectiveness and efficiency
- Company- wide open communication
- Continuously build a team environment
These goals are what make our stand-up meetings a continuous commitment. I have noticed that by focusing on these goals, the whole team is then able to work ahead energetically and efficiently. It’s much easier to implement goals when everyone feels that motivated!
Our meetings take place three days a week at 9 O’clock so everyone can participate. It has become a great routine for the staff here. One of the best parts about standing up in these meetings is that they are 10-15 minutes or less. It’s a perfect time interval to plan and meet as a group. What I love most about these meetings is that everyone within our staff has the opportunity to participate as the facilitator.
When it’s my turn to facilitate, I make sure to address the team and not just one person. I do this by using the following crew guidelines:
- Identify work-related problems & solutions
- Discuss any support calls received
- Share good news
- Measurements
- Announce upcoming events & schedules
Raising awareness and removing obstacles early in the morning allows for momentum the rest of the day. If someone has a particular challenge they will state it and perhaps someone else will have a possible or even better solution or insight to the problem. This allows team members to work on challenges until they are resolved. This calls for innovative thinking and teamwork!
Support calls deal with new prospects and client issues that need solving within the same day as the call. It is extremely important that we get these problems solved as a team, and make even those who are not involved, aware of the problem. No one is ever left out!
Since we are a very open company, everyone shares good news within their personal life as well as work related ones. Sharing builds teamwork, and that is what we always aim for!
Our progress is shown visually so the team can see all the tasks that are done, those still in progress, and ones not yet started. We use a big screen monitor; visible for all the team members.
We also have a buddy system where we talk about our schedules and upcoming events. This is a form of collaboration and allows everyone to be in the know. For example it can be crucial to know when a staff member will be on a conference call, or away from the office so special accommodations can be made if necessary.
The open line of communication at Pay Plus Benefits always keeps us rowing in the same direction.
Does your company have some form of Crew Time? If so, we’d love to hear what has worked well for you. And if your company is looking for a mechanism to get your team rowing in the same direction, I’d encourage you to give Crew Time a try! You’d be amazed what you can accomplish when everyone’s on the same boat, working together.
Lets keep rowing team!
Comments