Have you ever sat through a boring, non-productive, out of focus, “I’m wasting my time here” meeting? If you have, you may be part of the problem. Stop whining about the situation and do something to make your team meeting better.
Steve Davis of www.masterfacilitatorjournal.com has launched a personal campaign called “Random Acts of Facilitation.” He beckons each and every one of you, no matter how low on the totem pole you might reside, to begin asking questions about the meetings you’re in.
Questions to invigorate and empower you and your peers:
- See to it that a clear agenda is presented at the meeting. If it isn’t, request that one be developed either in the moment or that the meeting disband and reconvene at a later time until one is prepared.
- If a meeting is begun among strangers without any introductions or simple acts of relating, you will speak out and suggest spending a few minutes to go around the room and have people share something about themselves. After all, do you want to do business with total strangers when you don’t have to?
- If someone is hogging the air time, you will speak up and thank them for their great input and suggest that others be heard from, too.
- Long before you’ve been meeting for three hours straight without a break, you’ll request a short recess to accommodate personal needs and to just stretch and rejuvenate yourselves.
- When the energy is so heavy in the room you feel like you’re smothering, you will say something funny to make people laugh. The fog will lift; things will start moving again. You will risk being the “fool.” People will thank you later.
- When someone suggests a valid action during the meeting without assigning a responsible party and completion date, you will jump in and suggest that it be assigned, without feeling obligated to take it on yourself.
- Finally, trust your intuition. When something feels “off,” say so. You don’t have to have all the answers. Just know that your intuition never lies and if you feel something, others may as well. Your courage will inspire others to speak. The collective unspoken, given voice, will bring previously undiscovered wisdom, knowledge, and energy into the room. Great things will happen.
Question: What have you done to invigorate your team lately?
To book Kristin to speak or view her products go to www.ExtraordinaryTeam.com
