Our 'Future Fitness' Regimen
"How to keep learning from each other inside a team?"
One way is to conduct learning sessions for each other. We've done that at CTQ for years, as part of what we call 'Future Fitness'. Six months ago, we added another idea. It is called 'FutureRings'.
Each day, one CTQ member posts a comment in a dedicated channel: a micro-insight, an idea, a recommendation. So one day, Harish will post about trying out an automation tool. He passes on the baton to Omkar. The next day, Omkar points us to the Banach-Tarski paradox.
Then, it's Ankita's turn. She tells us about the life skill of learning how to drill. Like in drilling, these little bits can turn out to be useful: bit by bit, we accumulate knowledge from each other.
Once we go around the house, we declare the birth of a new 'FutureCoin' (This adds a bit of whimsy.)
If anyone misses their turn, we reset and have to begin all over again. (A seemingly minor loss; but when we lost one Coin this way, we found out even that can hurt.)
Over time, we began to add themes. They are around learning, problem-solving, future relevance, etc. : all the pet CTQ arenas in thin slices.
Examples of themes:
"One trend that could potentially affect your work in a negative way"
"Something smart/interesting someone else is doing (or has done), which you recommend we could take a leaf from"
"What is one thing you can teach someone else how to do, reasonably competently?"
Over time, this has become a structural addition to the way we think & behave. If we need some quick ideas, this is the group to post on. If we need some material for posting on our social feeds, we dip in here. It's also a way to "think by writing".
In March 2020, as COVID-19's effects on business & life became apparent, we were able to quickly come up with shippable ideas using this group. Everyone was primed to think appropriately.
The FutureRing is designed to help us build & record layers of ideas & material over time. Some days are tougher, but it's possible to grit your teeth for 15 mins once a week. It also serves as a way for our distributed team to stay connected & committed to a small shared system.
The FutureRing is an asynchronous complement to the learning sessions. Like with gardening, exercise, learning, and reading, the FutureRing makes us do a little bit of nurturing each day. It is regular, it is useful, and it's doable. And we hope it'll compound in unexpected ways over time.
Thinking about future relevance is an 'important but not urgent' activity. Folding it into the everyday routine and adding a light dose of commitment makes us more likely to do it.
What do you think of our idea? Let us know.