Feedback Loops & Team Meetings

Feedback Loops & Team Meetings

Feedback Loops and Team Meetings are essential in facilitating successful execution, whether it’s a day’s work or a long-term project. However, too often we find inconsistent, inaccurate, or even irrelevant communication within teams, which can be the root cause of major setbacks from goal achievement. To improve the communication circulatory system of your organization, check out these Q&A’s regarding the intentions and results of Feedback Loops and Team Meetings.

What Are Feedback Loops and when/how should I expect them?

When you delegate a task or project to someone on your team, that person should provide you, and other involved parties, with updates to the status of said task/project. These updates can be via in-person, telecommunication, or through a system your company uses to keep track of such things. However, if you feel you are having to check on the status yourself, you’re not delegating correctly! It’s important to train your team to own the status updates and check-ins, rather than ‘putting the monkey on your back‘ again.

What types of team meetings are there, and how often should they occur?

Here’s an easy breakdown:

Strategic Thinking Sessions

• Who: Core executive team + those who influence strategy (see this post for details)
• What: Discuss big picture goals, strategy, vision, purpose – the “what” and “why” meetings
• When: Annual 2-3 hour session off site to determine this year’s goal, with weekly sessions to brainstorm and ensure alignment of goals and values

Execution Planning Sessions

• Who: Core executive team + those who influence execution
• What: Form plans of action – the “how” and “when” meetings
• When: Quarterly 2 hour sessions off site to establish main objectives, followed by weekly 1 hour meetings for updates, modifications, analyzing alignment

Management Meetings

• Who: Managers of each department + at least 1 senior-level executive if possible
• What: Set and compare Critical Success Factors and Key Performance Indicators, go over each department’s goals, issues, and accomplishments. The opening statements of these meetings should echo: “Where are we now, and where do we need to be to make that goal?”
• When: Weekly 1 hour meeting, in person or via conference call (but not like this one)

Team Huddles

• Who: Every team member will meet with their respective department + the department manager
• What: Go over the status of current tasks/projects, assign new ones, re-prioritize with the direction of the manager, review any issues that may influence timeline structure. Communication should be quick, accurate, prepared ahead of time, and in a consistent pattern. (see: tips for productive meetings)
• When: Daily, every morning at the start of each day for 15 minutes

If I have strong Feedback Loops, do I really need daily team huddles?

YES. Though Feedback Loops are crucial for delegation and project work, team huddles aim to give everyone clarity surrounding the top priorities for that day. It’s helpful for each member of the team to see where everyone else is at as far as project stages go, so that workflow dependencies don’t turn into obstacles. Additionally, a manager is able to provide solutions to problems one person may be facing at the time, yet others may run into in the future. Lastly, these huddles help to fuel the team mentality and culture – all important to any successful company. These are just a few reasons why team huddles are entirely necessary. Depending on your business, you are likely to find many others.

Now that you know the weight that can be lifted off the shoulders of you and your team through Feedback Loops and recurring meetings, what other questions do you have? Fill out the form below with anything you’d like to ask, and we’ll provide the answers you need to move your business in the right direction.