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The Expertise Trap:  The Hidden Factors Behind Stronger Teams

Why do teams with a high-performing subject matter expert sometimes deliver worse results?   It often comes down to the approach of the team’s internal expert. Instead of viewing their role as one that lifts collective performance, they can operate from a personal performance perspective. This sometimes occurs because the organisation lacks the structure and direction to enable experts to support their teams.  In the absence of knowledge management, training pathways and documented procedures, the expert is implicitly expected to lead by role modellingRead More »The Expertise Trap:  The Hidden Factors Behind Stronger Teams

The Wicked Productivity Problem

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Spending time on non-value tasks results in reduced productivity.  But given this seems self-evident, why are non-value tasks so prevalent in our workplaces? A not-so-recent article preview here indicates that certain knowledge worker roles can realise a 40% improvement by eliminating non-value tasks from their working day.  And while the sample size wasn’t large for this particular article, the observationsRead More »The Wicked Productivity Problem

Building great KPIs

Introduction High performance for your business is about more than just making the right decisions. It’s about having the right KPIs in place to measure success, and rewarding employees for doing their job well. The key to building high-performing teams isn’t merely having good people on board – it’s understanding how KPIs work, what drives them and how to useRead More »Building great KPIs

One-on-Ones – Purpose, frequency, length, agenda & template

excerpt from Bee Squared’s Operational Leadership Handbook Recurring catch ups with staff members; prepared with performance feedback & other key topics. Purpose:  Meet with individual staff members regularly to: All of the above will contribute significantly to your individual staff members and team producing higher quality work in a more efficient way. Frequency:  The frequency of the meetings is yourRead More »One-on-Ones – Purpose, frequency, length, agenda & template

Manage YOURSELF FIRST

The operational leader of front-line workers is one of the busiest roles in an organisation.  Managing your time, and the tasks you will complete and your approach to them is an essential part of your success. Investing in the ‘core’ activities (your operating rhythm): Your operating rhythm.  There are key activities that improve your effectiveness as a team manager.  ThereRead More »Manage YOURSELF FIRST

Project establishment – Setting a project up for success

After you have agreed your project outcomes (see here), and you have clarity on what you are trying to achieve, let’s implement! The project establishment phase is critical. The time spent on this and the depth of detail can be varied relative to the size, benefit and risk of the project; however, all elements should always be considered. If not consideredRead More »Project establishment – Setting a project up for success

Talent management & succession planning

Talent management and succession planning create performance benefits that outweigh the investment of time and effort.  However, many leadership teams don’t know how simple and beneficial it can be.  The Performance and Potential Matrix can be a good a foundation point. The Performance and Potential Matrix (a.k.a. the nine box grid), is a commonly used HR or managerial concept forRead More »Talent management & succession planning

Reimagining Public Library Services: The Value of a Service Review

Libraries have long played a vital role in supporting community well-being, and in today’s changing environment, they continue to evolve as essential public services. As community expectations shift and operational pressures increase, it is more important than ever for libraries to remain efficient, responsive, and fit for purpose. At Bee Squared, we work closely with councils across South Australia andRead More »Reimagining Public Library Services: The Value of a Service Review

UNLOCKING GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE & EFFICIENCY

Spotlight on Workflow Management Effective workload management is at the heart of any organisation that aims to deliver results consistently, and it all begins with good workflow design. Workflow systems need to be tailored to specific needs, combining best practices with a clear understanding of the value versus cost for the organisation. The approach is not one-size-fits-all, as every teamRead More »UNLOCKING GREAT CUSTOMER SERVICE & EFFICIENCY