The Together Teammate

The Together Teammate

by Maia Heyck-Merlin, Heidi Gross
Released August 2023
Publisher(s): Jossey-Bass
ISBN: 9781119698869

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Book description

Strengthen and enhance your school support staff

Are you a supporting team member who is tasked with both planning ahead and answering the phone every time it rings? In The Together Teammate, The Together Group Founder and CEO Maia Heyck-Merlin delivers a step-by-step action plan for school and nonprofit behind-the-scenes team members who keep things running smoothly! With clear advice, samples from operations and support roles, reflection questions and modifiable templates, this book will help teammates to strengthen their systems and keep all the trains running on time!

Readers will also find:

  • Strategies for refining their organizational and time management systems in order to best support the missions of their organizations
  • Techniques for planning ahead and prioritizing accordingly
  • Ways to juggle multiple proactive projects and maintain strong customer service

A comprehensive and practical guide for anyone who works behind-the-scenes in a mission-driven environment, such as nonprofits, schools, and foundations, The Together Teammate will also prove invaluable for project managers, IT associates, office managers, finance coordinators, executive assistants, chiefs of staff, and anyone who has both proactive and responsive aspects to their roles.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Praise for The Together Teammate
  3. Title Page
  4. Copyright
  5. Dedication
  6. SECTION 1: Take Stock: Know Your Role and Set Your Priorities
    1. CHAPTER 1: Introduction – The Who, What, and Why of Togetherness for Teammates
      1. WHAT IS TOGETHERNESS, ANYWAY?
      2. WHY THIS BOOK MATTERS TO ME
      3. WHO, SPECIFICALLY, THIS BOOK IS FOR
      4. WHY TOGETHERNESS MATTERS BEHIND THE SCENES
      5. TOGETHER TRY‐ITS
      6. HOW THIS BOOK IS ARRANGED
      7. HOW TO MAKE THE MOST OF THIS BOOK
      8. LET'S GET THE TOGETHER PARTY STARTED!
    2. CHAPTER 2: Get Crystal Clear – Roles, Priorities, and Targets, Oh My!
      1. WHAT IS YOUR ACTUAL JOB? GET CLEAR ON THE OUTCOMES AND INPUTS
      2. DEFINE SUCCESS IN YOUR TOGETHER TEAMMATE ROLE – SET THOSE PRIORITIES AND TARGETS
      3. GET YOUR OWN PRIORITIES IN ORDER
      4. TRACK FOR YOURSELF AND SHARE PROGRESS
      5. YEAR‐AT‐A‐GLANCE – MAP IT ACROSS A CALENDAR
      6. SHELLY'S YEAR‐AT‐A‐GLANCE
      7. ERYN'S YEAR‐AT‐A‐GLANCE
      8. BUILD YOUR YEAR‐AT‐A‐GLANCE
      9. TURBO TOGETHERNESS
      10. MANAGER MOMENT
      11. Together Tour
      12. WHAT IS YOUR MOST USED TOGETHER TOOL TO KEEP YOURSELF TOGETHER?
      13. HOW DO YOU RE‐TOGETHER YOURSELF WHEN UNEXPECTED THINGS POP UP?
      14. WHEN IS A TIME YOU HAD TO ADJUST YOUR TOGETHERNESS PRACTICES AND WHY?
      15. HOW HAS TOGETHERNESS HELPED YOU COMMUNICATE AND WORK WITH OTHERS?
      16. HOW DO YOU HANDLE WORKING WITH COLLEAGUES WHO ARE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN TOGETHER?
      17. WHY DOES TOGETHERNESS MATTER TO YOU AT WORK AND AT HOME?
      18. Together Teammate Self‐Assessment: Consider Your Current Organizational Tools, Habits, and Routines
  7. SECTION 2: Get Yourself Together: Create Your Together Tools
    1. CHAPTER 3: Look Far Forward – Create a Comprehensive Calendar
      1. WHY INVEST IN A LONG‐TERM CALENDAR?
      2. COMPREHENSIVE CALENDAR SAMPLES
      3. SELECT A CALENDAR TOOL
      4. BUILD YOUR OWN COMPREHENSIVE CALENDAR
      5. HOW TO USE YOUR COMPREHENSIVE CALENDAR
      6. TURBO TOGETHERNESS
    2. CHAPTER 4: Build a Long‐Term List – Yup, This Is Everything!
      1. WHY KEEP A LONG‐TERM LIST
      2. LONG‐TERM LIST SAMPLES
      3. SELECT YOUR LONG‐TERM LIST TOOL
      4. BUILD YOUR LONG‐TERM LIST
      5. ROUTINES TO MAKE USE OF YOUR LONG‐TERM LIST
      6. TURBO TOGETHERNESS
      7. MANAGER MOMENT
      8. Together Tour
      9. WHAT IS YOUR MOST USED TOGETHER TOOL TO KEEP YOURSELF TOGETHER?
      10. HOW DO YOU RE‐TOGETHER YOURSELF WHEN UNEXPECTED THINGS POP UP?
      11. WHEN IS A TIME YOU HAD TO ADJUST YOUR TOGETHERNESS PRACTICES AND WHY?
      12. HOW HAS TOGETHERNESS HELPED YOU COMMUNICATE AND WORK WITH OTHERS?
      13. HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE PROACTIVE FOCUSED PART OF YOUR JOB WITH THE REACTIVE TASKS THAT POP UP?
      14. HOW DO YOU HANDLE WORKING WITH COLLEAGUES WHO ARE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN TOGETHER?
      15. WHY DOES TOGETHERNESS MATTER TO YOU AT WORK AND AT HOME?
    3. CHAPTER 5: Break Down the Big Stuff – Project Planning
      1. DETERMINE WHAT NEEDS A PROJECT PLAN – AND WHAT DOESN'T
      2. CREATE A PROJECT SUMMARY
      3. PROJECT PLAN SAMPLES
      4. BUILD YOUR PROJECT PLAN
      5. COMMUNICATE ABOUT THE PROJECT WITH OTHERS
      6. PLAN FOR THE UNEXPECTED BECAUSE IT ALWAYS HAPPENS – TRUST ME
      7. INTEGRATE WITH YOUR TOGETHER TOOLS
      8. TURBO TOGETHERNESS
      9. MANAGER MOMENT
    4. CHAPTER 6: Fill with Staples, Make Room for Snacks – Build a Weekly Worksheet
      1. THE PURPOSE OF PLANNING FOR A WEEK
      2. COMPONENTS OF A WEEKLY WORKSHEET
      3. WEEKLY WORKSHEET SAMPLES
      4. PERSONALIZE YOUR WEEKLY WORKSHEET TOOL(S)
      5. PRACTICE BUILDING YOUR FIRST WEEKLY WORKSHEET
      6. PUT YOUR WEEKLY WORKSHEET INTO ACTION
      7. TURBO TOGETHERNESS
    5. CHAPTER 7: Host a Meeting with Yourself – and Prep for the Week Ahead
      1. MEETING WITH YOURSELF: THE WHY
      2. MEETING WITH MYSELF CHECKLIST SAMPLES
      3. BUILD YOUR OWN MEETING WITH MYSELF CHECKLIST
      4. CREATE THE CONDITIONS TO SUCCESSFULLY MEET WITH YOURSELF
      5. COMMUNICATING AFTER YOUR MEETING WITH YOURSELF
      6. TURBO TOGETHERNESS
      7. MANAGER MOMENT
      8. Together Tour
      9. WHAT IS YOUR MOST USED TOGETHER TOOL TO KEEP YOURSELF TOGETHER?
      10. HOW DO YOU RE‐TOGETHER YOURSELF WHEN UNEXPECTED THINGS POP UP?
      11. WHEN IS A TIME YOU HAD TO ADJUST YOUR TOGETHERNESS PRACTICES AND WHY?
      12. HOW HAS TOGETHERNESS HELPED YOU COMMUNICATE AND WORK WITH OTHERS?
      13. HOW DO YOU HANDLE WORKING WITH COLLEAGUES WHO ARE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN TOGETHER?
      14. WHY DOES TOGETHERNESS MATTER TO YOU AT WORK AND AT HOME?
      15. Put It All Together: Build Your Together System
      16. CUSTOMIZE YOUR OWN TOGETHER SYSTEM
    6. CHAPTER 8: Get Those Inboxes in Check – Set up Your Digital Life
      1. SET UP YOUR INBOXES FOR SUCCESS
      2. GET YOUR DIGITAL DOCUMENTS IN ORDER
      3. DEALING WITH ALL THAT OTHER DIGITAL CLUTTER
      4. TURBO TOGETHERNESS
    7. CHAPTER 9: Plan for the Pivot – Deal with the Daily Deluge
      1. THE INNOCENT INTERRUPTION
      2. MOVE SWIFTLY THROUGH YOUR INBOX(ES)
      3. SYSTEMATICALLY CAPTURE INCOMING NEW REQUESTS
      4. PAUSE TO PLAN YOUR PIVOT – AND THEN COMMUNICATE
      5. TURBO TOGETHERNESS
      6. MANAGER MOMENT
      7. Together Tour
      8. WHAT IS YOUR MOST USED TOGETHER TOOL TO KEEP YOURSELF TOGETHER?
      9. HOW DO YOU RE‐TOGETHER YOURSELF WHEN UNEXPECTED THINGS POP UP?
      10. WHEN IS A TIME YOU HAD TO ADJUST YOUR TOGETHERNESS PRACTICES AND WHY?
      11. HOW HAS TOGETHERNESS HELPED YOU COMMUNICATE AND WORK WITH OTHERS?
      12. HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE PROACTIVE FOCUSED PART OF YOUR JOB WITH THE REACTIVE TASKS THAT POP UP?
      13. HOW DO YOU HANDLE WORKING WITH COLLEAGUES WHO ARE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN TOGETHER?
      14. WHY DOES TOGETHERNESS MATTER TO YOU AT WORK AND AT HOME?
  8. SECTION 3: Get the Team Together: Teammate Tricks to Move the Work Forward
    1. CHAPTER 10: Craft Clear Communications to Move Others to Action
      1. WHAT METHODS DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION USE TO COMMUNICATE?
      2. WRITE YOUR MESSAGES WITH A BIAS TOWARD RESULTS
      3. SEND THE NEWSLETTERS, MEMOS, AND NOTES – OH, MY!
      4. TURBO TOGETHERNESS
      5. MANAGER MOMENT
    2. CHAPTER 11: Make the Most of Your Meetings – Before, During, and After
      1. GET CLEAR ON YOUR ROLE IN EACH MEETING YOU ATTEND
      2. MAKE THE MOST OF MEETINGS WITH YOUR MANAGER
      3. MANAGE MEETINGS FOR A GROUP OR TEAM
      4. PLANNING FOR THE NEXT SEVERAL MEETINGS – AND NOT JUST TODAY'S!
      5. TAKE NOTES IN MEETINGS – AND OWN THE FOLLOW‐UP
      6. BE THE MEETING MANAGER – OWN THE MEETING START TO FINISH
      7. TURBO TOGETHERNESS
      8. MANAGER MOMENT
    3. CHAPTER 12: Peek Around the Bend – Forecasting into the Future
      1. SUPPORTING OTHERS TO FORECAST
      2. SUPPORT STAKEHOLDERS WITH FORECASTING
      3. TURBO TOGETHERNESS
      4. Together Tour
      5. WHAT IS YOUR MOST USED TOGETHER TOOL TO KEEP YOURSELF TOGETHER?
      6. HOW DO YOU RE‐TOGETHER YOURSELF WHEN UNEXPECTED THINGS POP UP?
      7. WHEN IS A TIME YOU HAD TO ADJUST YOUR TOGETHERNESS PRACTICES AND WHY?
      8. HOW HAS TOGETHERNESS HELPED YOU COMMUNICATE AND WORK WITH OTHERS?
      9. HOW DO YOU BALANCE THE PROACTIVE FOCUSED PART OF YOUR JOB WITH THE REACTIVE TASKS THAT POP UP?
      10. HOW DO YOU HANDLE WORKING WITH COLLEAGUES WHO ARE SLIGHTLY LESS THAN TOGETHER?
      11. WHY DOES TOGETHERNESS MATTER TO YOU AT WORK AND AT HOME?
    4. CHAPTER 13: Systems Spotting – If You See Something, Say Something!
      1. TURN UP YOUR SYSTEMS ANTENNAE
      2. TURN PAIN POINTS INTO SMOOTH SYSTEMS
      3. CREATE SYSTEMS TO SUPPORT OTHER HUMANS
      4. SHANNON'S SUPPLY ORDER FORM
      5. THE CALL TO CODIFY – WHY?
      6. TURBO TOGETHERNESS
      7. MANAGER MOMENT
    5. CHAPTER 14: Own the Outcomes: Take Charge, Especially When You Are Not the Boss!
      1. WHAT IS OWNING THE OUTCOME AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
      2. ASK QUESTIONS TO CLEAR THE COBWEBS (AKA GET CLEAR ON THE OUTCOME)
      3. TRACK PROGRESS TOWARD THE OUTCOME
      4. TURBO TOGETHERNESS
      5. MANAGER MOMENT
      6. Together Test
    6. CHAPTER 15: Togetherness Is a Journey, Not a Destination
      1. RECALL THE MEANING OF YOUR WORK
      2. WALK THE TOGETHERNESS PATH WITH OTHERS
      3. YOU ARE NOW A TOGETHER TEAMMATE! (YOU PROBABLY ALREADY WERE)
      4. TOTAL TOGETHER TOURS
      5. GOODBYE, BE WELL, AND BE TOGETHER
  9. Contributors
  10. Acknowledgments
  11. About the Authors
    1. MAIA HEYCK‐MERLIN
    2. HEIDI GROSS
  12. Index
  13. End User License Agreement

Product information

  • Title: The Together Teammate
  • Author(s): Maia Heyck-Merlin, Heidi Gross
  • Release date: August 2023
  • Publisher(s): Jossey-Bass
  • ISBN: 9781119698869