Ken Laidlaw
Jul 22, 2017 · 3 min read

Wk 2 Assignment

This was the week that I felt confident enough to push for implementation within our company. Why! Because I understood the importance of the Social Contract, I viewed this as the glue that holds our working structure together. Previously I had just assumed that people would automatically do it, they’d be respectful, they’d complete their tasks, they’d hold each other to account, but that’s not going to be the case. Because so many of them are standing back waiting for the next instruction, it’s going to be extremely difficult for them to take on the various elements of the Social Contract. It’s like promoting someone to manager for the first time and expecting him/her to suddenly know how to control, manage and hold people to account.

At the moment I think this will be the make or break element of Self Management process (in our company). The writing and agreeing the Social Contract is logical, easy and relatively quick. Delivering on what’s in the Social Contract is an entirely different thing. The teams will need a lot of help and support to get over this first hurdle. Holding their teammates to account will not be easy. My main concern is that it gets a bit too personal!!

I’ve detailed below our Wk 2 Assignment, fantastic artwork by Benito. The big question for me is, should we have had a lot more detail, or is it best to be fairly vague???

VBK (Vinny, Benito & Ken) Team

Our Team Purpose

Our Team Purpose is to learn and understand the processes and techniques required to successfully implement Self Management in a company or an organisation. We want to achieve this through shared learning and developing a network of skilled speicials who we can contact for advice and support.

Our Behaviour Towards Each Other

Meetings

Honouring our Commitments

Respect one another, treating each other professionally and with integrity.

Communicate openly and honestly with each other.

Listen to each other’s concerns and ideas with attentiveness and discernment, without interruptions

Honor the confidences of others.

Strive for excellence by consistently giving our personal best to each other and our customers.

Be accountable for our actions.

Respect to the others time, Respect Deadlines

Foster a fun and friendly workplace.

Contribute in a positive way

Listen to our colleagues

Never discuss Team Members actions, if that Team Member is not present.

When we commit to a task or a role, we are expected to complete that task or role to the best of our ability.

If we feel we cannot offer a commitment, then we must NOT offer that commitment, we must allow someone else to offer their commitment instead.

If after giving our commitment, we are unable to complete a task, either to the desired level or within the desired timeframe, we must ask for help and assistance from our Team Members before the deadline or expected completion date.

If we fail to honour our Commitments, it is the duty of other Team Members to hold us to account in a respectful and professional manner.

Review

We will commit to review this contract at the first meeting each month and we will continue this process until we are all happy and agree.

I promise to commit to our combined Social Contract. Vinny …………………… Benito ……………………… Ken …………………..

Ken Laidlaw

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