The Together Teammate – Build Strong Systems, Make the Work Manageable, and Stay Organized Behind the Scenes

Section 1: Take Stock: Know Your Role and Set Your Priorities 1 Chapter 1: Introduction - The Who, What, and Why of Togetherness for Teammates 3 What Is Togetherness, Anyway? Why This Book Matters to Me Who, Specifically, This Book Is For Why Togetherness Matters Behind the Scenes Together Try- Its How This Book Is Arranged How To Make The Most of This Book Let's Get the Together Party Started! Chapter 2: Get Crystal Clear - Roles, Priorities, and Targets, Oh My! 17 What Is Your Actual Job? Get Clear on the Outcomes and Inputs Define Success in Your Together Teammate Role - Set Those Priorities and Targets Get Your Own Priorities in Order Track for Yourself and Share Progress Year- at- a- Glance - Map It Across a Calendar Shelly's Year-at-a-Glance Eryn's Year-at-a-Glance Build Your Year- at- a- Glance Turbo Togetherness Manager Moment Together Tour: Ashley 37 Together Teammate Self-Assessment: Consider Your Current Organizational Tools, Habits, and Routines 39 Section 2: Get Yourself Together: Create Your Together Tools 43 Chapter 3: Look Far Forward - Create a Comprehensive Calendar 45 Why Invest in a Long- Term Calendar? Comprehensive Calendar Samples Select a Calendar Tool Build Your Own Comprehensive Calendar How to Use Your Comprehensive Calendar Turbo Togetherness Chapter 4: Build a Long- Term List - Yup, This Is Everything! 61 Why Keep a Long-Term List Long-Term List Samples Select Your Long-Term List Tool Build Your Long-Term List Routines to Make Use of Your Long-Term List Turbo Togetherness Manager Moment Together Tour: Kevin 80 Chapter 5: Break Down the Big Stuff - Project Planning 83 Determine What Needs a Project Plan - and What Doesn't Create a Project Summary Project Plan Samples Build Your Project Plan Communicate About the Project With Others Plan for the Unexpected Because It Always Happens - Trust Me Integrate with Your Together Tools Turbo Togetherness Manager Moment Chapter 6: Fill with Staples, Make Room for Snacks - Build a Weekly Worksheet 109 The Purpose of Planning for a Week Components of a Weekly Worksheet Weekly Worksheet Samples Personalize Your Weekly Worksheet Tool(s) Practice Building Your First Weekly Worksheet Put Your Weekly Worksheet into Action Turbo Togetherness Chapter 7: Host a Meeting with Yourself - and Prep for the Week Ahead 131 Meeting with Yourself: The Why Meeting with Myself Checklist Samples Build Your Own Meeting with Myself Checklist Create the Conditions to Successfully Meet with Yourself Communicating After Your Meeting with Yourself Turbo Togetherness Manager Moment Together Tour: Brett 153 Put It All Together: Build Your Together System 155 Chapter 8: Get Those Inboxes in Check - Set Up Your Digital Life 159 Set Up Your Inboxes for Success Get Your Digital Documents in Order Dealing With All That Other Digital Clutter Turbo Togetherness Chapter 9: Plan for the Pivot - Deal with the Daily Deluge 175 The Innocent Interruption Move Swiftly Through Your Inbox(es) Systematically Capture Incoming New Requests Pause To Plan Your Pivot - and Then Communicate Turbo Togetherness Manager Moment Together Tour: Fiama 203 Section 3: Get the Team Together: Teammate Tricks To Move the Work Forward 207 Chapter 10: Craft Clear Communications to Move Others to Action 209 What Methods Does Your Organization Use to Communicate? Write Your Messages with a Bias Toward Results Send the Newsletters, Memos, and Notes - Oh, My! Turbo Togetherness Manager Moment Chapter 11: Make the Most of Your Meetings - Before, During, and After 229 Get Clear on Your Role in Each Meeting You Attend Make the Most of Meetings With Your Manager Manage Meetings for a Group or Team Planning for the Next Several Meetings - And Not Just Today's! Take Notes in Meetings - And Own the Follow- Up Be the Meeting Manager - Own the Meeting Start to Finish Turbo Togetherness Manager Moment Chapter 12: Peek Around the Bend - Forecasting into the Future 261 Supporting Others to Forecast Support Stakeholders with Forecasting Turbo Togetherness Together Tour: Lola 274 Chapter 13: Systems Spotting - If You See Something, Say Something! 277 Turn Up Your Systems Antennae Turn Pain Points into Smooth Systems Create Systems to Support Other Humans Shannon's Supply Order Form The Call to Codify - Why? Turbo Togetherness Manager Moment Chapter 14: Own the Outcomes: Take Charge, Especially When You Are Not the Boss! 297 What Is Owning the Outcome and Why Does It Matter? Ask Questions to Clear the Cobwebs (Aka Get Clear on the Outcome) Track Progress Toward the Outcome Turbo Togetherness Manager Moment Together Test 314 Chapter 15: Togetherness Is a Journey, Not a Destination 317 Recall the Meaning of Your Work Walk the Togetherness Path with Others You Are Now a Together Teammate! (You Probably Already Were) Total Together Tours Goodbye, Be Well, and Be Together Contributors 327 Acknowledgments 329 About the Authors 331 Index 333

MAIA HEYCK-MERLIN is the Founder and CEO of The Together Group, where she trains educators on time management, efficiency, and more. Previously, Maia served as Chief Talent Officer and Chief Operating Officer for Achievement First, a charter school management organization. She is author of The Together Teacher and The Together Leader.