What's in Your Cup?

Cups are practically a part of our wardrobe these days. From trendy tumblers to the iconic Starbucks cups, these containers often hold the thing that keeps us going. Morning coffee, fizzy water, or a post-workout protein shake, what’s in our cup serves a purpose: it energizes us, sustains us, and fuels us. It's the contents, not the container, that enables our success and helps us reach our goals for the day.

In an organizational context, it's important that our teams have full cups. Are we providing what they need, when they need it, to help them achieve success? To fill each cup effectively, we should have a clear understanding of goals, skill level, and motivation. This information helps us identify the resources, training, and coaching to empower every member of our team.

Is ensuring this level of support an overwhelming task? After all, there’s an entire industry dedicated to filling our physical cups, with a coffee shop or convenience store on every corner and overflowing supermarket beverage aisles—no pun intended!

Not to worry. A few practical steps will simplify the process of keeping every cup full.   

1. Establish and Communicate Clear Goals
   Clear goals are an essential starting point in understanding the needs of your team. From here, you can map the journey to success and identify the skills needed to get there. Communicating these goals helps everyone see the bigger picture and understand how they can contribute. Regularly revisit and reinforce your goals and vision to keeping everyone oriented toward a common purpose and to check that learning and development plans are still in alignment with the progress of the team.
2. Use Assessments and Surveys to Inform Development Plans
   Implement skills assessments, personality tests, and employee satisfaction surveys. Tools like StrengthsFinder, Myers-Briggs, or custom-designed surveys can highlight strengths, areas for improvement, and motivational factors. Analyzing this data offers valuable insights into the collective and individual capabilities of your team, allowing you to tailor development opportunities effectively.
3. Create a Culture of Open Feedback
   Encourage a culture where feedback flows freely in all directions. Regular feedback sessions, both formal and informal, are an outlet for team members to share their thoughts and suggestions. Foster an environment where individuals feel safe to express their ideas and concerns. This ongoing dialogue helps you stay in touch with evolving goals and motivations, enabling you to support your team more effectively.

By understanding and meeting the unique needs of each team member, we ensure their cups are always full, ready to pour into the task at hand with skill and engagement. So, what’s in your cup today? And more importantly, what are you pouring into those you lead?