Hi - I've just created a competency framework and run our latest set of 360s (including training on feedback, PDPs and line manager training) at Thriva. Happy to help out with a session if that's the kind of thing your looking for? We're now a team of 34, about 20 people went through the reviews and we have had some really great feedback from people (which is nice). Shout if you want to organisae something @wooden-appointment-3216 and @billions-spoon-17324

@billions-spoon-17324 @brash-rainbow-76518 I would love to! Hopefully we can find an availability that works for the both of you? I'm sending an email out right now 🙌

Great - thanks @wooden-appointment-3216

Looking for any advice on how to keep people around and above you in the loop on projects you're working on, when a lot of the job is keeping things ticking along, or working across teams that then those people asking don't see. It's funny, this is kind of a standard interview question, but then it seems I've fallen into exactly this trap because my CEO is particularly averse to hearing status/project updates that don't require a decision from him — he finds it boring or irrelevant and "trusts" me to take things forward... but then I recently got feedback that he doesn't have visibility into what I do.

That sounds more like a problem on them tbh…If they don’t allow you the time to do even a 5-min a week report on what you’re up to, how can you create visibility into what you do??

Just my 2 cents

Been there before, really difficult situation to manage. I have previously approached it with some success as “can I ask for your opinion and advice on my projects” vs “I want to update you on my projects” - I find people more are receptive when you ask for help (to the point that they’ll ask you for updates themselves because they’ve given you advice on something and now they feel involved). It is also a fine balance between being perceived as unable to make decisions on your own and asking for help/input :) Needs careful wording. #officepolitics

There was a great article on this somewhere, i know it’s in my Instapaper...will do my best to dig out!

Agree with Ausrine here, everyone likes to give advice. Id go in with "this is my plan, but just wanted to know if you have any other suggestions which might improve". Ideally they say "no, this is great" but the fact you have asked often is enough for them to feel invested (and in your case - updated!)

Agreed Ausrine's advice is really good. I have this issue currently with my CEO as he's overloaded but does need to be in the loop about what I'm working on. He's super into data, so I'm going to take my cut data to him before I write my report and just be like 'I thought you'd find this interesting' and then use that in to give him an update. Similarly, if I'm too busy sometimes my team know I'm a sucker for giving advice on dealing with difficult teams and can feed updates that way.

RE involving your CEO on a “can i get your advice” basis - don’t you then get into the area where you have your CEO involved into which coffee brand to choose for the team picnic (aka the red/green bike shed?) (exaggeration obviously) Or am I too culturally insensitive to expect my CEO to be able to clearly communicate what he needs from me and where I can do my own thing? (#AllGermanManagement)

@victorious-action-52281 lol 🙂 all CEOs should have German attitude... 😄

I guess there's theory (=Germany) and practice (=everything else). I was watching this documentary a while ago where Brit was spending a day in German offices inc. pencil factory...I think it was this one: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b038669g

if you ever want to organise Ops Stories field trip to Germany to observe operational efficiency I'm gonna be first on the list! 🙌

ok found it: (start at 12.05):

"nonono you're not here to rest!"

There has never been an office or company that I experienced that was better organized than my dads..hands down. He could literally jump in front of a bus and know that the business would continue working like nothing happened. From decision making to personal development to operational improvements and long-term strategy. He’s barely 55 but there is a plan with exact steps on what happens in the moment of his death 😄 #belikedad #notlikedadjustyet #don’tdoitdad

#opsstoriesdad

seriously, can we have him as Ops Stories guest speaker?

😄 I can ask 😉

OMG! Yes, sign me up for the field trip and your dad as a speaker (can I bring my dad for it too, he's almost 70 and if he jumps in front of a bus we're clueless, even if both my brothers work in the company, and we're just one country over 🙈 )

I would come to the field trip and Robin's Dad's speech.

Hey everyone, a random question: does anyone here use Front https://frontapp.com/? Thinking about it as it might replace emails and Zendesk…

i’ve used front before for email, SMS and socials

i really like the tool

very straightforward and off the shelf solution for a team inbox

Nice! thanks @gray-crowd-13635 Did you use it as a replacement for a mailbox? or as CS tool?

both

i personally liked the simplicity of front

Great! thanks @gray-crowd-13635, I might try it out soon then.

Hi Guys, looking to pick your collective brains! I am interested to know what (if any) controls you all have around who can sign contracts in your companies. We currently don’t have any ‘official’ controls or tools and am looking to implement something.