Time: 2 Hours
STEP 1: Use the following outline within an email or with your team as part of a group discussion:
At times, we all need help delivering a particular goal or objective. To help us achieve high levels of performance, I would like to create an “Expert Directory” that identifies individuals who can provide expertise to our team when we need help.
To create our “Expert Directory”, I need your help. Please think of 3 people who are experts in one of the following:
- An area that is critical to one of our team goals (e.g., software implementation)
- An area you think would be helpful to team members (e.g., budget management)
Reply to this email by providing the name of the individual, the expertise this person can provide, and the person’s email address and phone number.
STEP 2: Have a team member summarize the list of experts forwarded by each team member to create an “Expert Directory”.
STEP 3: Ask a team member to lead the team through a discussion of how to use the completed “Expert Directory”. Be sure to discuss:
- When and how we should contact the expert
- How to use the individual’s expertise
- How to alert the team if an expert is being used too much
- The importance of thanking the expert for his or her time
STEP 4: Every 6 to 8 weeks, review the “Expert Directory” in a team meeting. Have team members share who they’ve contacted and how the person has helped. Add any new experts who can help the team.
