QBQ Book Study (Summer 2011)

QBQ Book Study notes and highlights

Participating members:

• Erik Black
• Mary Malpezzi
• Lisa Morrell
• Joe McBreen
• Holli Buchter
• Dan Magyar
• Bud Hunt
• Michelle Bourgeois
• Steve Borecky
• EVERYONE is welcome to join at any time - we meet Wednesdays at 11:30 in the DMS Conference Room - consider joining us!

Summary: We were excited to explore the book. Possible fears of some people doing too much with this philosophy - going too far - when others should be doing the work themselves. People who care so much risk burnout. These same service types of people often have "border" issues because they do things in others' domains. Personal accountability, if we build it up in ourselves and we show that we are competent, then it spurs a higher level of accountability in those around us. It's important to assess others' background knowledge and the "place they are in" when helping them. Communication is very important. Sometimes we need to vent - but it's not going to change anything - so if we learn to question and phrase things better it helps. For example, rather than starting questions with "Why" (e.g., Why does the district communicate like that?) ask "How" or "What" questions (e.g., How can the district communicate better?).

Random Thoughts/Ideas from QBQ!:

-personal accountability - negative comes easy; positive takes work

-thoughts over actions = make better choices

-better questions start with what or how; they contain an "I", not them, you or we

-"why me" = powerless which equals victim thinking

-no excuses, take responsibility

-there was much discussion about stress being the result of our choices.

-stress goes with caring

-we need to be flexible in times of change

-procrastination increases stress; take care of the little things while they are still little

-communication - understand the other person...you can even ask "How can I better understand you?".

-The answers are in the questions

-succeeding within the box means to work with what you have

-QBQ = How can I achieve with the resources I already have; How can I apply what I am hearing"

-Blame is counterproductive

-we/they syndrome; silos and butt covering; "That's not my job"

-we forget we are all on the same team

-Silos are not bad in light of certain people and/or groups of people have certain skill sets. Concerns come to light with trust issues and communication.

-problems in DTS with geographical locations of department members; we need to make a conscious effort to visit other members of department

-we are customers of one another within the department

-how can we better communicate new projects to whole department--who can then communicate to the district members

-newsletter, blog, Leadership Update, other?

-managers go to other managers' meetings

-offers were made during this session of what can one area of DTS do to help other areas be more productive