A blueprint to help you have truly ‘open’ conversations with your team

You’re asking people to join you on a journey into the unknown. You need them to share your dreams and to trust that you’ll have their backs. You’re asking these individuals to sacrifice all sorts of family time, personal freedom and financial stability for the greater good of the vision/company that you’re building.

In effect, it’s like a marriage with lots of trust, yet filled with  plenty of hiccups that can rattle the foundations of the relationship. John Gottman, a well known Psychologist has come up with what he calls the ‘Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse’ which are the signs of a fraying relationship. These are Criticism, Defensiveness, Stonewalling and Contempt. With the divorce rate hovering around 40%, it’s not surprising that really superb business executive matches are few and far between. That’s why a two way communication and understanding of what’s important to you and your senior membership team are key.

Fill out the blueprint below and share it with your team. Discuss the ramifications so your key members know where you stand.

Go beyond the day-to-day mundanities of life and uncover what truly excites people, to try and lead them in ways that will truly engage. Here are some additional questions to consider discussing, as part of your ‘blueprint of yourself’.

By having this conversation, and exposing yourselves in an open dialogue, you’ll be assured that both parties know where they stand. You can’t ask for a better starting point in an open relationship.

We’ve enclosed a blank Blueprint Form here for your use.