Rules to Live By: Growing a Healthy Team: For People Who Run Teams or Organizations - HOW Design Live 2019

In this session, Ben Callahan and Rob Harr will share key lessons they’ve learned from their years of growing a healthy studio. We’ll discuss your most valuable assets (your people!), how to help them feel part of something bigger than themselves, and the challenge/reward of transitioning out of the day-to-day to focus on the big picture.

This session is for you if:

-You are curious about moving into a leadership role
-You are being asked to take a leadership role on your team
-You run a team
-You run a studio or agency
-You see warring factions where you work and want them to recognize they’re on the same team

We promise you’ll walk away:

-Having heard real-life stories about the transition from a team of 4 to a company of 44
-With a few tangible ideas to put into practice no matter where you are on this journey
-With examples of how true values can drive almost every decision in your organization
-With the comfort of knowing that you’re not alone in this process

There will be plenty of time to speak from the heart. Bring your experience and participate in the conversation.

Key takeaways:

1. The most valuable asset you have is your people.
2. People want to be a part of something bigger.
3. The skills that got you here aren’t the skills needed for the next step.

Transcript

1. GROWING A HEALTHY TEAM RULES TO LIVE BY @robertharr @bencallahan
3. Become a Real Company™ Find a great client Get some computers
4. Become a Real Company™ Find an event to speak at Figure out a vacation policy Become a Real Company™
6. Rob Harr Ben Callahan
7. Rob Harr Ben Callahan
8. PM Buddy.
9. PM Buddy.
10. Genuinely take
 care of our people
11. Genuinely take
 care of our people Genuinely succeed
 in our business
12. Genuinely take
 care of our people Genuinely succeed
 in our business
14. RULES TO LIVE BY PART 1: THE PEOPLE TALENT PRODUCER (NOT TALENT CONSUMER)
18. It takes an entire company
 to raise an apprentice.
19. People have seasons.
20. People over process.
21. Rigid Process Group Improvisation Great Work Culture of trust Regular innovation Good Work Doubt in leadership Lack of trust Poor Work Average Work Doubt in process Lack of quality Floundering feeling Trouble executing Inexperience Experience
22. Getting along is not collaboration.
23. Hiring is your most important job.
27. “Hire for culture add, not culture fit.” Melissa James
28. RULES TO LIVE BY PART 2: THE BUSINESS SUSTAINABILITY
 (AND SLEEPING AT NIGHT)
29. Replace yourself.
30. Shit rolls uphill.
31. Take care of yourself.
32. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Weekly Breakfast TimeSheets due at 9:30 am Projects Stand-up Prepare and Send Invoices MicroCash updated Future P&L updated $$ Meeting Humans Meeting Late Invoices Sales Report Director 1:1’s All-Team Demo Forecasting updated
33. Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Morning yoga Coffee Afternoon Golf league Morning Lifting Coffee Morning Lifting Coffee Weekly Breakfast Blocked Lunch
34. “Prototype your business.” Dan Mall
35. Unlearning is just as important as learning.
36. Become a Real Company™ Find an event to speak at Figure out a vacation policy Become a Real Company™
37. Genuinely take
 care of our people Genuinely succeed
 in our business
38. Succeed in business by taking care of our people.
39. THANK YOU @robertharr @bencallahan