How and when to get in the weeds: the action brief work session method

This video and the article is part of a series of exercises taken from the ResultMaps workshop, “How to Accelerate Results with Accountability + Ownership."

The action brief 1x1 meeting method is meant to address a major accountability issue through improved one-on-one communication. In this article, we are using an example in which we proactively address a potential accountability challenge related to avatars on our scoreboard metrics.

The example

At ResultMaps, we recently rolled out new profile avatars in various places, representing assignment ownership and accountability. While our team is operating efficiently, I recognize the need for extra clarity to ensure excellent delivery.

Our current situation involves getting avatars on every scoreboard metric. To streamline communication, I prefer to create a document rather than resorting to continuous chats or detailed specifications.

I aim to begin with a positive note, acknowledging the impressive look of the avatars and emphasizing the need to integrate them into the scoreboard.

The primary issues to address involve customers using our API to connect with platforms like Salesforce. This connection poses a challenge, as it either removes the person's name from the API or breaks the integration if a tech lead has set it up. Specifically, when a team admin needs to perform an action, there's a potential for disruption.

To avoid overwhelming the responsible individuals, I create clear headings to chunk their questions and concerns, making it easier for them to respond.

The document serves as an assignment, with a maximum time commitment of 20 minutes for the initial review.

Additionally, I include a section for "one more thing" to capture any extra details or ideas that might emerge during the process.

Managing these insights becomes crucial as context switching can be expensive, and we want to focus on the task at hand.

Moreover, to prevent diverting attention from the immediate accountability task, I include a "roadmap ideas" section.

This is a space for future considerations and enhancements, ensuring that the team can concentrate on the current objective without getting lost in the broader vision.

In practice, I share this document through a ResultMaps assignment, encouraging the responsible individual to fill in comments and provide necessary details. This collaborative approach, coupled with clearly defined sections, facilitates efficient communication and accountability management, aligning with our high-growth values and goals.

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