Spoke - planning
Proper, prior, preparation prevents persistently poor performance.
This expression highlights the significance of the planning process in attaining successful outcomes for the group in terms of its task and its operational functions. Planning to attain group goals is enhanced if there is equal attention given to planning the group’s operational structure.
The group applies the process of planning as it establishes relevant goals and then determines the action strategies that enable the group to progress towards goal achievement. As this plan of action is constructed the group concurrently plans an operational team structure that will facilitate goal achievement.
Effective groups spend time planning for goal attainment and they establish the group operating structures to enhance successful performance.
The wheel model helps us visualise the impact of a faulty spokes/planning on wheel function/group effectiveness. A wheel with short spokes does not travel as far per revolution as a wheel with long spokes.
Key points to remember are:
- Group members that are involved and empowered in the process of planning goals, action strategies and team operations are likely to be more committed to making them work.
- Planning for achieving goal attainment takes into account the specific work context, roles & responsibilities, action strategies, timelines and resources.
- Planning for achieving team work takes into account the human resources available, the structure of the group, the distribution of power and responsibility.