Why Do Follow-up?

• Why call others when you say you will, even if you have not finished your job?
• When should you have others follow up with team members?
• Why call to find out if others have done their jobs?
• Why build on what team members do well?
• Why add team members or follow up on advice from others?
• Why connect with other groups?

Why call others when you say you will, even if you have not finished your job?

Trust comes when people know they can count on each other [B7]. So do what you say you will do. Sometimes things take longer than planned. Maybe someone you were to call is away and does not come back until after your deadline. Do not wait to call the team until you have finished your job. Let the team know what has happened (or not happened). When people do not hear from you when you said you would call, they do not know why. Are you sick? Do you think they are not important? Do not wait for them to call you.

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When should you have others follow up with team members?

If team members do not trust you, they often will not say so to your face [B4]. This is why it is good to have another person call team members after meetings to ask if you are working well together. If the calls after the first few meetings tell you that you have built good relationships, you can just ask the team yourself.

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Why call to find out if others have done their jobs?

If someone has a hard time with their job for the team, find out why. Do they need help because they are too busy? Do they need to be told more clearly how to do the job? Do they need training for the job? Are they interested in doing that job? If not, maybe someone else will do it. Sometimes, if people have a hard time with a job, they feel bad. They may feel they let the others down. Tell them they are OK. We just need to find another way to get the job done. Ask if they have a better idea. Make sure they still have useful ways they can take part in the team.

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Why build on what team members do well?

Build on what people do well. It is important to give people a second chance. But it is also important to get the job done [B11]. If people feel that you will blame them if they make a mistake, they will try to hide their mistakes [B12]. Thank them if they tell you the truth when they make a mistake. Do not lay blame. Instead, ask what we can do differently next time.

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Why add team members or follow up on advice from others?

Are more people needed to meet the goal? Do they need to join the team or can they just give advice? Should they come to a meeting or can someone call them and report back to the team. Ask the person to come to a meeting if the team needs more answers.

If people give you advice, be sure to tell them later how their advice was used [B10]. If it is not used, tell them why. They need to know that you really did hear them. If you do not, they may not take time to help you again.

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Why connect with other groups?

Keep your eyes and ears open to find out about other projects that may help or hurt your team's success [B7]. Tell other people about your project and its goal. They may be able to help you. Use newsletters, presentations and word-of-mouth. The more ways you use to tell others, the more successful you will be. If people with power need to be on your side to succeed, then find out who they are and what to tell them, so they will help you.

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