Just-in-time: Leadership a - z is j

Today's leadership a through z is about Just-in-time. So much of today's business context makes just-

Wordle created at Wordle.com, Britton, 2013

in-time approaches so valuable -

Just-in time coaching
Just-in-time feedback
Just-in-time training

What words come to mind when you think of "just in time"?

For myself, words such as:
Immediate
In the moment
Specific
Informal
and Focused spring to mind

Immediate feedback and support is important for people to be able to access information right now, in the moment and not six months later or a year later at the performance review process. As leaders we often fall into the trap of thinking that it's going to take a lot of time, when in fact, it doesn't.

What immediate feedback/support/coaching/feedback can you provide right now to your team members? How much time would this really take?

Just in time approaches are very specific, tailored, targeted and focused. If we look to just-in-time warehousing approaches that retailers like Walmart and Canadian Tire have based much of their inventory process on, orders are place when needed, and for specific items. In translating this to the leadership realm, what specific, focused and targeteted feedback do you need to offer to each team member, right now?

Just in time approaches to training or coaching often are more informal. In the moment training can be invaluable, to solve or address an issue right away, rather than when training can be scheduled. This then becomes a more proactive approach to development, enabling "course correction" along the way.

What are the tools you have at your fingertips right now to support you in these conversations?

What other qualities come to mind when you think of just-in-time?

With best wishes,
Jennifer

Jennifer Britton, MES, PCC, CPCC
Potentials Realized - Leadership, Retreats, Team Development
 Jennifer Britton, PCC, CPCC
Author of Effective Group Coaching and From One to Many: Best Practices of Team and Group Coaching (Jossey-Bass, 2013)
Phone: (416)996-TEAM

As an author Jennifer Britton is known for her thought leadership in the area of group and team coaching. She is also a former leader and team builder who spent the first 13 years of her career working within the United Nations as well as the international aid sector. From Boardroom to jungle, beach and forest to mountains, Jennifer has worked to develop teams and leaders in more than 18 countries, and virtually many more. She founded Potentials Realized in 2004 and focuses on leadership, teamwork and coaching skills training.