Silence as a Path to Innovation (with Jennifer Braganza)

Jennifer Braganza (VP of Operational Excellence at Pontoon Solutions), sits down with host Christi Scarrow and discusses the importance of passion and the necessity of learning from failures. She highlights the significance of connecting organizational goals to employees' interests and the value of timely, specific recognition. Braganza also stresses the importance of building teams, not just finding outstanding talent, and the need for leaders to be adaptable and transparent. She shares strategies for encouraging diversity of thought, such as using anonymous brainstorming tools and advises leaders to understand and adapt to their team members' preferences for feedback.

Action Items

-Implement a regular team meeting tradition of starting with recognition and appreciation. -Explore the use of tools like Mentimeter to encourage divergent thinking and avoid groupthink within existing teams. -Share your “How to Handle Me” cheat sheet with others and help your team to share it with you Outline

Engaging Teams and the Importance of Recognition

-Jennifer explains the importance of connecting organizational goals to what is important to individuals and accepting that not everyone will be passionate about the same things. -She highlights the role of the first follower in making a leader  -Jennifer shares her practice of starting team meetings with recognition, emphasizing the need for timely, concrete, and specific appreciation. Balancing Recognition and Constructive Criticism

-Christi and Jennifer discuss the importance of recognition and the analogy of giving "sunshine" to people. -Jennifer talks about the need for constructive criticism and the balance between recognizing good work and providing feedback. -She mentions the importance of building recognition into organizational systems and structures, emphasizing the need to focus on positive actions. Challenges of Leadership and Building Teams

-Jennifer discusses the importance of being aware that leaders are always being watched and the impact of their reactions on their teams. -She shares her strategy of training her brain to react positively to new ideas and the importance of giving team members the opportunity to flesh out their ideas. -Jennifer emphasizes the need to build a team, not just find outstanding talent, and the importance of considering the fit for purpose when hiring. Encouraging Diversity of Thought and Managing Teams

-Jennifer explains the use of tools like Mentimeter for anonymous brainstorming to encourage divergent thinking. -She emphasizes the importance of leaders being quiet and allowing team members to speak first to avoid groupthink. -Jennifer highlights the importance of safe spaces for sharing ideas. Adapting Leadership Styles and Empowering Teams

-Jennifer advises focusing on either results or personal development and being adaptable to the needs of the team. -She emphasizes the importance of being honest and asking questions to understand how team members prefer to receive feedback and recognition. -Jennifer shares her practice of having a "how to handle me" conversation with new managers to set expectations and improve communication. Building Trust and Transparency in Leadership

-Jennifer discusses the importance of building trust with teams and being transparent. -She shares her experience of realizing that her facial expressions could be misinterpreted and the need to provide context for her reactions. -Jennifer emphasizes the importance of apologizing for any abruptness and being clear about the reasons behind her actions. Useful Links

Host: Christi's Web Page

Guest: Pontoon Solutions

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