My wife does this amazing thing with our daughter which she calls "Taking the garbage out." During this time my wife simply asks my daughter if there is anything she wants to talk about, fess up to, ask for help or guidance on, or if there is anything she needs. My wife learns a lot about what is going on in the internal world with our daughter and this creates connection between the two of them.

We've used this same principle during our weekly family meetings. All of us have an opportunity to share good things we've noticed in each other, to ask for forgiveness for something we said or did, or to voice a grievance about one another. This mechanism allows us to check the temperature of our family, and also serves as a guide for what we might need to be aware of and focus on, and what we need to keep doing. 

Check their Temperature!

Have you thought about that your people need their temperature checked as well? They do! As a leader it is imperative that you know the temperature of your people and of the team. Knowing the temperature of your people allow you to know what is going well (so you can keep doing those things!) and what isn't going well, so that you can address the issues before they get out of control.

How can you check their temperature? The best way is to find time to connect consistently with the people on your team. The best part about this is that you can connect in so many different ways, can't you? You can chat with someone while getting a cup of coffee, or check the temperature of your maintenance manager while walking a unit with him/her, or by creating a standing 10 minute "chat" every week with the members of your team. 

People are NOT set it and forget it!

Some of you are resisting this idea of spending any more time than you need to, because you're already so busy-and if that's you, I understand! However, you must remember that while "Set It and Forget It!" may work for kitchen appliances, it doesn't work for people. So, if you don't find times to check the temperature consistently, you might be (unintentionally) allowing the problems that are time-suckers to continue happening!

Remember, it doesn't have to be a long, drawn-out process! In fact I'd say that these temperature checks work better when they're not so long. And, the less formal it feels, the more effective these will be. 

Here are some sample questions for your temp checks:

• What is working for you?
• What isn't?
• Is there something you need from me?

Set the Temperature of Your Team

While thermometers simply record the temperature, it's the thermostat that sets the temperature for the environment, doesn't it? Creating a culture of success requires thermostat leaders that set the temperature of their teams. While checking the temperature of your team is vital, it's equally important that you don't let their temperature affect your temperature!

When meeting with your associates here are three phrases you can use to set the proper temperature on your team:

• I need you to keep doing this ______
• I need you to start doing this ______
• I need you to stop doing this ______

Now, if you've taken the time to listen to what they have to say, they'll be more likely to listen to what you have to say.

Putting it All Together

If you haven't already, I encourage you you to read the other three articles in this series, as it will give you the basic framework to build a culture of success!

Part One

Part Two: Common Purpose

Part Three: Is That the Pilot?

Closing Thoughts 

• Essentially you must remember that the responsibility for the results of the team rests with the leader.
• You must have a common purpose that your people can believe in and have bought into-and you need to know their common purpose, so that you can show them how helping your team achieve its common purpose, will help them achieve their own.
• Take time to connect with your people, check their temperature and then be the one to set the temperature.
• Rinse and repeat

One of my greatest joys is giving people all over the nation the tools to build successful, cohesive, high-performance teams, so please let me know your stories! I'd love to hear them!