To draw out from others

How are you at the skill of elicitation? Can you draw information and contributions out of people? 

Why elicit : because they’ve got something to contribute or expertise we need to tap into. 

Elicitation isn’t just asking one question and then waiting for the answer. It’s more often about an ongoing conversation, back and forth. It’s getting to the point, finding the key information, uncovering the challenge or problem or insight. 

We can’t wait until people speak up or ‘lean in’.

To elicit is to actively collaborate with someone to help them contribute and give. 

It’s asking, encouraging, clarifying, listening, hearing, repeating back, wondering, probing, asking, listening...

The problem is, we often don’t allow the time even though it’s a key component of engaging others and uncovering important insights.

Don’t wait for people to eventually feel safe enough to speak up. 

Take the time and plan for how and when you will engage, ask and elicit from others. 

Hybrid Work - Masterclass

Hybrid Work: some people are here, some are there, some people are alone, some are together. Onsite or offsite, work better with everyone

The new realities of work mean you’ll more likely be having a mix of where people are located, for every meeting, workshop, team and project. 

The world of work continues to change. Not everyone is working from home, OR working from an office. 

Be prepared and know what tools, techniques, processes and methods to use to lead in this unique experience of a hybrid workshop or meeting. 

You can't just 'wing it.'

I've been leading a 2-hour masterclass to answer:
- how to achieve and maintain engagement across all of these different spaces
- how to know people are engaged and participating
- how to get people involved
- how to you use breakout rooms if not everyone is on their own device
- what do we need to do differently than if everyone is in the one place (all online or all in the one location).

People said: 
“Best facilitated online session during COVID”
“The most engaging facilitator I’ve seen”
“Lots of good stuff & fun at the same time”.

Get in contact to find out more...

When you’re stuck for ideas

It’s tough running on the idea wheel, waiting, searching for ideas. 

We often need ideas for:  
- projects
- business or branding
- writing and blogging 
- product naming
- workshops and meeting activities
- presentations and pitches
- problem solving. 

Every day we need to draw on our creative abilities to add our opinion, get something started (or finished) or make something happen. 

If you’re focusing on doing the work of a task, it’s tricky to then switch over into a more creative way of thinking. 

We might expect the magic will just flow... but no 😢

While there are plenty of tips on how to come up with ideas, we don’t usually think of those tips when we’re under pressure to make ideas happen. 

I’ve shared previously my use of an ideas book: a journal or sketchbook that catches what I’m thinking about. I can fill a book every few weeks! 

Then it’s an easy flick through a few pages and something will connect. The power of our creative mind swings into action, connecting something with something else and ... boom... 💥 an idea is born! 

Wait forever for the perfect idea to show up or better still, collect them as they come to you, whenever they come to you. 

How will you handle hybrid

Microsoft, Atlassian, Google, Slack and Square announced recently that their people could forever work from home if they wanted to. 

They’ve set a precedent and trend for other companies to follow.  

The reality of a HYBRID work force means you’ll begin to have a mix of where people are for every meeting, workshop, team and project. 

Some people are here, some are there; some people are together with others and some people are alone. 

There will be some online and others who may be in the room with you. 

This can create challenging issues with engagement, involvement, participation, contribution and communication. 

How will you handle this hybrid way of working in say, a meeting or workshop? 

When we bring people together we need to:
- Engage their interest 
- Involve them in the work
- Align them as a group or team 
and then, help them
- Commit to decisions and actions. 

This need to juggle and switch across groups and locations is a new way of working for many. 

It raises questions, combinations and tricky logistical situations. 

Plan ahead but be ready to adapt. 

Getting started when it’s all too much

Waiting for the perfect time? Waiting to launch an idea, press ‘go’ on a project - there may not be a perfect time. 

When we wait for the right time, perhaps we’re just waiting until we feel right. 

But if we keep waiting until we feel ready, brave, complete, right, correct and as perfect as can be, we will be waiting a long time. 

We can burn and waste a mighty lot of time in that state of inertia, waiting ... until. 

Before a hot air balloon takes off, pilots launch small lit balloons and watch how they respond in the air. 

They can read the weather forecast or muster all the courage and bravery they have, but that’s not as good as a trial. 

A trial balloon is a smaller version of the big thing and gives them some of the most real and visible evidence of what will happen when they launch the bigger one. 

Launching a trial balloon is something we can send out early on in our endeavor to check the market’s response ... and our response too. 

What’s a trial balloon you can put out there to help you get some insight on how your ‘thing’ might go? 

Launch something. Little.