Page 23 - Modern Steel Construction (April 2019)

business issues Performance

Collect information from attend- Keep your prepared content (lec- at Can
ees in advance. This effort pays off ture) tight. Sometimes in meetings—and
three-fold: most certainly in formal presentations—
• Shape your agenda and ensure you’ll need to provide substance for the Be Trusted.
involvement. Who has time to talk with audience to chew on. It’s tempting to data
attendees prior to a meeting (or formal dump a whole lot of information in one fell
presentation) particularly in a volunteer swoop, with the hope that it will stick. Yet
capacity? You do! If you craft an agenda due to today’s short attention spans—along
based upon the input of others, they will with the audience’s desire to learn from one
ultimately have a vested interest in the another—it’s best to “chunk” your content.
meeting’s success. It’s shared ownership. After delivering a chunk between five and
Isn’t that worth an extra hour or two? But 15 minutes, provide a subsequent prompt
take note: You’re not asking attendees to for the audience to either discuss or apply.
review your full agenda. Rather, you are While this approach may feel risky at first,
surveying them to gain their insights and/or with practice you will discover that it ener-
questions about challenges, ideas, visions, gizes the overall experience.
goals, competitors, communication or Tap into your inquisitive self while
whatever themes make the most sense for facilitating. Ask thought-provoking
your charge. questions and listen with open curiosity
• Feed two birds with one seed. Dur- to responses. Keep your questions tight,
ing the meeting or speech, proactively and provide initial prompters to encour-
reference relevant attendee informa- age quick but thoughtful responses. For
tion. “Kaitlyn shared an inspirational story example, “In your experience as a project
about a recent adopt-a-pet blitz. Sloane manager, what do you find to be the big-
spoke of a challenging conversation with a gest challenge to motivate your team? Is it
theater patron. Connor mentioned a new identifying interesting projects? Opportu-
idea for the volleyball tournament. Car- nities for career advancement? Continu- Have peace of mind
los described his eye-opening experience ing education?” These types of questions
when touring the client’s facility.” If it’s are more provocative than simply asking, knowing that your building
relevant to your meeting and will motivate “In your experience as a project manager, will perform at a high level
discussion, weave it in! Attendees will col- what is your biggest challenge to motivate for many years to come.
lectively relish the personalization, even if the team?”
you don’t reference each person directly. Group ’em, then group ’em again. When using FormLok ®
• Create warmth and intimacy, one Personally, I vastly prefer to converse dovetail deck, you are
person at a time. As an introvert, I wel- one-on-one or in smaller, intimate groups. using dependable, high-
come connecting one-on-one; it’s manage- Even if your meeting is comprised of just
able rather than overwhelming. So when eight people, there’s still value in providing quality products that are
gathering information, dedicate time to opportunities for intimate conversations. made to last.
learn tidbits about what’s going on with Then, to further add to the dynamic over-
that person, at work or otherwise. Then, all experience, regroup them. Shake it up. We are open for design.
when the actual presentation or meeting Whether it’s rotating or putting pairs with See how at dovetaildeck.com
occurs, try to privately reference those side pairs (to create a new group of four, for
notes, either before the meeting or dur- example) information and ideas will flow.
ing a break. In general, other attendees The variety will do them good, and it will
will feed off the energy that exudes from provide an opportunity for them to more
personal connections between the facili- closely connect with multiple people.
tator and individuals. Maybe Michael is Already mastered some of these tips as
expanding his family. Perhaps Cynthia just a facilitator? Great! Stay tuned for my next
won an award at work. Heather is dealing column, which will focus on “what-ifs?”
with an aging parent. And Marc is training and how to troubleshoot on-the-spot dur-
for an Ironman triathlon. Whatever the ing facilitations. ■
tidbit, your genuine interest (and it must
be genuine—otherwise, don’t bother!) will Have tips/anecdotes on becoming a leader, Powerful Partnerships.
strengthen your connections. particularly a facilitator? Send them to Powerful Results.
melnick@aisc.org.

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