The WoW Factor: The Power of Defined Ways of Working

Does your team act like a dysfunctional family?  Are the siblings arguing all the time? Is the washing up never getting done?  We have felt your pain and can sympathise.  The good news is that there are ways to resolve this in the workplace without the need for family therapy.

We believe in building strong team foundations by collaboratively setting or refining our ways of working (WoW). It's a team effort, where everyone contributes their ideas and experiences. This results in a living document that defines how a team operates and, crucially, why.  A clear, actionable WoW ensures everyone's on the same page, promoting open communication, integrity and accountability.  In our experience a high functioning team means high quality deliverables = happy stakeholders.

But, let's be real, teams evolve. Our WoW needs to keep pace. It's not set in stone—it's a flexible guide that adapts to changing team dynamics, project needs, and technology. Regular reviews are key to ensuring it stays relevant and effective.

Here are tips for managing your ways of working:

• Make changes as a team, using retrospectives to identify areas for improvement.

• Embrace iterative improvement; don't be afraid to adjust if something isn't working.

• Focus on small, incremental changes rather than complete overhauls.

• If a WoW is consistently ignored, it's a sign it needs revisiting; work with the team to find a better solution.

These insights come from our own extensive experience working with teams of all sizes across a range of industries.  At Next Phase Consultancy, we specialize in guiding teams like yours to collaboratively define and refine their WoW, ensuring sustainable efficiency and impactful scaling.  If you are ready to move your team from dysfunctional dynamics to high-performing harmony reach out to us today for a chat at hello@nextphaseconsultancy.com