A little more conversation - a lot more action
Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 4:33PM A logistics client of mine is having their senior leaders forum next week - they do this around every 90 days. I facilitate the gathering of 80 leaders to ensure they can all participate, that we stay on track and that there are some serious outcomes after some wonderful collaboration.
So when you have a team gathering scheduled on the calendar and you're busy finding a meeting room, remember this above all other arrangements :
Ask ________________________________ Tell
You see, it can't be all talk. That isn't a forum. That wouldn't be a team thing. That would be a presentation.
Any time you bring people together, stop with all the talking and telling will you!
Wander along to the other end of the continuum and be sure to engage, question, ask and have a co-nversation.
Co = together. Bring people together so they can collaborate, communicate, co-create and co-design the changes and activities that will achieve your business or project strategy.
It's quicker and will get you more buy-in than you simply telling them. Seriously it will.
There are still a lot of 'all talk' bad habits out there. It can be a whole new way of looking at things and that can seem challenging at times.
- How do we get their input and ideas?
- How do we wind people up once they start?
- What if it gets out of hand?
- How will we wrap up the day?
- What if....what if... what if...
I think every gathering, workshop or strategy session needs The 9 Elements of Collaboration. I make sure they are brought to the teams and clients I work with, every time they get the team together.
Let me know about your next gathering of the team - what do you want to have happen? Let's work on designing an agenda, an event and processes that are engaging, creative and collaborative and most of all... designed to make things happen.
Otherwise you're all talk!