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Published November 02, 2014 at 12:00 PM

Weekly Adjustment Meeting: No Status vs. Red Status

4 min read
Weekly Adjustment Meeting: No Status vs. Red Status
1:50
4 min read
Weekly Adjustment Meeting: No Status vs. Red Status
1:50

Key Takeaways

  • Statusing a priority Red in Rhythm is a way of asking for help; it is not saying you don't know how to do your job.
  • Leaving a priority blank to avoid an embarrassing Red is not honest; if prioritizing just wasn't in the cards this week and Yellow or Green would be a lie, mark it Red.
  • Like a teacher who cannot help students who never raise their hands, your team cannot help with problems it never sees, and the gaps only show up later when results miss expectations.
  • When you status a priority Red, leave a comment explaining why it is Red, state your plan of action, and if you do not know what to do, say "I need help."
  • Come to your Weekly Adjustment Meeting prepared to accept advice from the team around you; an honest Red opens up endless positive discussions.

It’s that time each week when you meet with yourself in Rhythm to prep for your weekly meeting, and you reach a priority that just slipped through your schedule this week.  Whatever the reason may be, prioritizing just wasn’t in the cards for this one and a Yellow or Green status isn’t being honest.

The fear begins to overcome you as you imagine how your weekly meeting could be an embarrassment.  How will your team judge you for having a RED status?  What does RED say about your ability to do your job?  So you decide to just ignore it. Yes, that is better than marking it red.  Red is bad.  Blank is… not good, but not as bad. 

Rhythm helps create a collaborative work environment.  If you status a priority Red, it’s a way of asking for help; it’s not saying you don’t know what you’re doing.  I used to be a high school math teacher.  I didn’t know a student needed help unless he or she raised a hand.

If I wanted the best results from my students, I had to make sure everybody was on track with the lesson.  If no one raised his or her hand, then I thought I was doing a pretty good job teaching the topic.  That is until I gave them an assessment, and they did not perform to my expectations.  Why didn’t anyone say anything?  I could have helped.

So, when it’s time to meet with yourself and you come across that priority that you just could not find the time or energy to make green this week, not even Yellow, go ahead and raise your hand, and status it Red.  Leave a comment on your priority to explain why it’s Red and then state your plan of action. If you don’t know what to do, then make sure to say, “I need help.”  Then be prepared to accept advice from the great team that surrounds you during your weekly adjustment meeting.  The number of positive discussions that can occur is endless.

 

Rhythm Systems Weekly Meeting With Myself Tool

Frequently Asked Questions

What does a Red status mean in a Weekly Adjustment Meeting?

Red means a priority is off track and you are raising your hand for help. In Rhythm, statusing a priority Red is a way of asking for help from your team, not an admission that you cannot do your job. It turns a slipped priority into a discussion the team can actually solve.

Is it better to leave a priority with no status than to mark it Red?

No. Leaving a priority blank because Red feels embarrassing is not honest, and it hides the problem from the people who could help. If the week got away from you and a Yellow or Green status would be a lie, go ahead and status it Red.

What should you do when you mark a priority Red?

Leave a comment on the priority explaining why it is Red, then state your plan of action. If you do not know what to do, say "I need help." Then come to your weekly adjustment meeting prepared to accept advice from the team around you.

Why do people avoid marking priorities Red?

Fear of judgment. People imagine the weekly meeting becoming an embarrassment and worry about what Red says about their ability to do their job, so they ignore the status instead. But a collaborative team treats Red as a raised hand, and just like a teacher with a classroom, no one can offer help for a problem that is never surfaced.
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