OpenSourceOD
Introducing Workout
Dive into the rollout strategy of the Workout methodology within Aitkin County. This session is particularly illuminating for those curious about the tangible steps involved in implementing such a transformative approach in an organization.
Helpful Reading
Helpful Reading
"Leading Change" by John P. Kotter
Kotter's book is renowned for its insights into change management. It's particularly relevant to your podcast as it delves into the complexities and strategies of leading change within organizations, aligning with the themes of transformation and employee engagement discussed in the Workout methodology.
"Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard" by Chip Heath and Dan Heath
This book offers a unique perspective on effecting change in challenging environments. It aligns with your podcast's focus on implementing new methodologies and overcoming resistance, providing practical advice and psychological insights into the change process.
"The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business" by Charles Duhigg
Duhigg's exploration of habit formation and change provides a foundational understanding of how organizational habits can be transformed. This book complements your podcast's theme of fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovative thinking within an organization.
Transcript
Welcome back to our Workout podcast series. In this episode we delve into the exciting rollout of the Workout at Aitkin County. If you listened to our first episode about what workout is, you can imagine that introducing it to an entire organization is no small task. For example, first we need to make sure people are aware of what workout is, we need to train facilitators , we need to create a flow where improvement ideas are invited and strategically prioritized. We also need to manage misconceptions, celebrate wins, and create opportunities to learn from each other and get better at it together.
Ultimately my goal is to make sure that Aitkin sustains workout as a way of thinking about work, continuously improving, and creating space for employee empowerment and employee-led innovation. That's a lot to manage, so how are we rolling out Workout at Aitkin?
Let’s discover how this powerful tool is being implemented to reshape and revitalize Aitkin's organizational landscape. The journey begins with a foundational step. The commissioners and department heads of Aitkin County received a very brief introduction to the concept and characteristics of Workout - the gist if you will. Then, in in one-on-one sessions with commissioners and department heads I provided a next level understanding of workout, how much time it would take, how the system will work within Aitkin and so on. I also asked department heads in particular to each help me identify a first wave of Workout facilitators. There will be numerous waves, but we have to start somewhere. How did we select the first wave? I gave the department heads a list of specific criteria that make for a great workout facilitator and we identified a number of people, many who may end up being part of the second wave of facilitators (who, by the way, will be taught be the first wave!).
These criteria (see full list below) included items like strong communication skills, an innovative mindset, and the ability to inspire collaborative problem-solving. We look for individuals who are not only capable of understanding the principles of Workout, but also bringing them to life. We ended up with an incredible list of dynamic members who I'll list in the description of this podcast (see below) and each of them recently received thorough training in the Workout methodology. These pioneers are now ready to facilitate workouts that are sponsored across various departments. Their role is crucial and they'll need our support and encouragement as they start their workout journey - their learning will continue so long as we provide constructive feedback. As we launch, I'll also be there to coach every step along the way.
Now, in addition to our Revitalization Team members who are essentially the facilitators of these workouts (which are essentially structured meetings), we have Workout sponsors, a role played by department heads. Soon our department heads will receive deeper instruction on what Sponsorship looks like, and how ideas for workouts will be invited, captured, prioritized, brought to fruition, and celebrated. The Sponsor's responsibilities are critical. A workout sponsor must, by definition, have authoritative power that allows for them to champion, support, and provide strategic context to assist the development, facilitation, and execution of workouts, ensuring tight alignment with the goals of individual departments and the broader goals of Aitkin. Sometimes a workout can have more than one sponsor, and typically these sponsors support workouts that effect their own departments.
All department heads, as part of their regular meetings, will also play the role of a Workout Planning Team, which will periodically discuss the prioritization of more substantial, Aitkin-wide Workout ideas. They will also receive updates from Revitalization Team members on the fruits of their labors, and collectively encourage and celebrate their success.
Now if you don't recognize yourself in any of these roles, it's because you are likely going to play one of the most important roles, the role of a change champion. Change champions are typically front-line employees who serve the process as workout participants who are empowered to come up with and carry out ideas that create direct improvements to their own worlds. Ideas, approaches, and plans for carrying out new and improved ways of working are designed (with the help of Workout facilitators) by change champions themselves because who knows the ins-and-outs of processes better than the people who carry them out and interface with citizens and colleagues in the process. This carries another important implication... change champions (as well as revitalization members and sponsors) may have an idea for a tremendous Workout topic in their area.... and we don't want any of your ideas to die on the vine! So the next question you should be asking is, how do I float a workout idea, and how does that idea flow through the organization? Tune into my next episode to learn how anyone in the Aitkin County ecosystem can bring a revolutionary idea, or a quick and effective opportunity to the table for full consideration!
First Wave Revitalization Team Members (Workout Facilitators)
Ben Mowers ben.mowers@co.aitkin.mn.us
Brenda Butterfield brenda.butterfield@co.aitkin.mn.us
Chelsea Cummings chelsea.cummings@co.aitkin.mn.us
Christy Bishop christy.bishop@co.aitkin.mn.us
Elizabeth Eddy elizabeth.eddy@co.aitkin.mn.us
Jacob Leonhardt jacob.leonhardt@co.aitkin.mn.us
James Johnson james.johnson@co.aitkin.mn.us
Jane Arnold jane.arnold@co.aitkin.mn.us
Jessi Schultz jessica.schultz@co.aitkin.mn.us
Jody Grund jody.grund@co.aitkin.mn.us
Jon Moen jon.moen@co.aitkin.mn.us
Kim Larson kimberly.larson@co.aitkin.mn.us
Kimberly Burton kimberly.burton@co.aitkin.mn.us
Kyle Priem kyle.priem@co.aitkin.mn.us
Mark Jeffers mark.jeffers@co.aitkin.mn.us
Mary Hakes mary.hakes@co.aitkin.mn.us
Nicole Visnovec nicole.visnovec@co.aitkin.mn.us
Randy Quale randy.quale@co.aitkin.mn.us
Reina Irvine reina.irvine@co.aitkin.mn.us
Sara Olsen sarah.olsen@co.aitkin.mn.us
Sarah Johnson sarah.johnson@co.aitkin.mn.us
Shannon Parenteau shannon.r.parenteau@co.aitkin.mn.us
Shelly Spiegelberg shelly.spiegelberg@co.aitkin.mn.us
Sondra Swanson sondra.swanson@co.aitkin.mn.us
Staci Powers staci.powers@co.aitkin.mn.us
Stacy Westerlund stacy.westerlund@co.aitkin.mn.us
Tara Snyder tara.snyder@co.aitkin.mn.us
Toni Lane toni.lane@co.aitkin.mn.us
Vlad Orekhov vladimir.orekhov@co.aitkin.mn.us
Wendie Bright wendie.bright@co.aitkin.mn.us
Identifying Talent to Invite to GE Workout Training
Here is a comprehensive checklist for senior leaders to use when identifying participants who will learn and implement the GE Workout methodology and lead culture change, team development, and strategic planning initiatives:
Communication skills: Look for individuals who are skilled communicators, able to articulate their ideas clearly, and are able to listen to others.
Facilitation skills: Identify individuals who have experience leading teams or facilitating groups, and who are comfortable with managing group dynamics and encouraging participation from all team members.
Leadership skills: Look for individuals who have a strong leadership style, who are able to inspire and motivate their team members, and who are comfortable making difficult decisions.
Critical thinking skills: Identify individuals who are able to analyze complex problems, break them down into manageable parts, and develop effective solutions.
Interpersonal skills: Look for individuals who are able to build strong relationships with others, work collaboratively, and are able to influence and persuade others in a positive way.
Change management skills: Identify individuals who have experience managing change initiatives and are able to adapt to changing circumstances.
Strategic thinking skills: Look for individuals who are able to think strategically, identify long-term goals, and develop plans to achieve them.
Project management skills: Identify individuals who are skilled at managing projects, including planning, budgeting, and tracking progress.
Results-oriented: Look for individuals who are focused on achieving results, and who are able to set and achieve ambitious goals.
Ability to learn: Identify individuals who are committed to learning and developing their skills and who are open to new ideas and approaches.