Last weekend I was trying to get my kids to do their chores. They are 5 and 9 years old so it’s not happening without a lot of intervention on my part. I decided to take a new tactic. Instead of my previous methods: demanding, cajoling, or punishing by withholding allowance, I wanted something more sustainable.

So as I showed them how to clean the kitchen counters by wiping the debris, then scrubbing the dirty spots, spraying some cleaner and then shining the counters, I told them the story how doing the counters is my favorite job. Yes, there is a little Huckleberry Finn in that approach but it worked. Pretty soon I had them both wanting to do the job. And I was able to walk away and do something else.

When the leadership teams in my clients want to know how to increase the effectiveness of their teams through collaboration, I often tell them the key is sharing. It’s more than uploading docs, creating to-do lists, and having IM channels. Telling a story about how the company mission resonates with you or include a quote that motivates you makes a difference. Leaders are often selected because they know how to do a particular job but they forget to tell the why. To quote leadership expert Simon Sinek, Start With The Why.

Here’s the second part of the secret – it needs to be done more than once and is best done on a regular basis. I understand the reluctance because that sounds time-consuming. This is where collaboration software can help.

Our specialty is M365 but these tricks can be implemented in many ways on different platforms. Use Loop to post a quote of the day. Or before you share the metrics for your group, spend 15 seconds to voice how it lands for you. You can take that meeting recording and use ClipChamp to make a 30 second short video.

I told my kids that I love cleaning the counters because you can immediately tell if you’ve done a good job. That when the sun shines through the window and you can see no marks on the sparkling granite counter, there is good reason to be proud.

Later in the day after my kids made the counters shiny clean, I noticed my 5-year-old walk by and brush some crumbs onto the floor. Clearly he was invested in his good counter work. I guess pride for the floors comes next. Progress…not perfection.

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(featured photo from Pexels)

You can find Wynne Leon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wynneleon/

Her other projects include work as a CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer), speaking about collaboration and AI through the Chicago Writer’s Association. Her book about her journey to find what fueled her dad’s indelible spark and twinkle can be found on Amazon: Finding My Father’s Faith.

She co-hosts a storytelling podcast featuring authors and artists with the amazing Vicki Atkinson. To tune in, search for Sharing the Heart of the Matter on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music or Pocketcasts (and subscribe) or click here. Or the YouTube channel features videos of our interviews. Please subscribe!