Page 124 - Make Work Great

Growing Your Crystal

If you’re unsure how to broadcast to this group, consider a simple
model for growing the network between you and your role set by
creating a crystal of ICE (identify, connect, explain):

1. Identify the fi ve to eight people who comprise your primary role
set and list them in your notebook.

2. Connect with each of them. Whether it’s a greeting in the park-
ing lot, a team-building activity, drinks after work, or a fi ve-
minute phone conversation about how the week is going, get to
know each of them. You need not become best friends, but you
should work to build a connection and, through that connec-
tion, learn about the work pressures they face.

3. Explain your workplace purpose to them. In particular, use
your summary outputs list to talk about your own workplace
pressures. Be sure to do this in a nondefensive, matter-of-fact
manner. You’re not trying to make their demands seem insig-
nifi cant; rather, your goal is to help them understand the other
demands on you, so they have a sense of what their requests
look like from your perspective.

Putting your role set “on ICE” helps you establish your trustwor-
thiness with these important people in three ways. First, they learn
that you’re predictable and come to know what to expect from you
when they approach you. Second, they learn that you’re reliable and
come to believe that you’ll follow through when you make a commit-
ment. Third, they learn that you’re responsible and come to realize
that you keep their agendas in mind even when they don’t directly
oversee you. 1
The ICE model is an excellent strategy to employ with your role set
no matter what the circumstance. It’s especially helpful in the context
of crystal building, because it’s a way of being overt about your tasks
and clear about your relationships. It’s your broadcast, and it gives
each member of your role set the chance to experience your new cul-

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