Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Here's a great Rx for the "Non-Meeting"


Question: How was that last organizational meeting that you went to? Did meaningful conversation happen or was it the same old "non-meeting" that ended up being yet another grand waste of your time? What I mean by "the non-meeting" is the feeling I get  when I attend a meeting and discover that no authentic conversation really goes on, meeting after meeting, and month after month.

The networking with others before and after the meeting is great, but once the meeting starts... all meaningful communications stops. That's when the "non-meeting" begins, announcements, and committee reports from people droning on and on that put you to sleep. Maybe if you are lucky, the guest speaker may be engaging and get the conversation going... but what about the conversation between regular members during meetings? Where is that and why can't meaningful conversation happen there? 

Organizations then wonder why their membership keeps dropping off. Where are the crucial conversations between members that speak to their needs... especially when the stakes today are so high? Having crucial conversations is not so easy, especially when we consider the dynamics of group meetings. Here's a great book that has some great insights and tools for talking: Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes Are High  by Kerry Patterson, Joseph Grenny, Ron McMillan, Al Switzler, and Stephen R. Covey. See it in my Amazon-powered New World Virtual Bookstore.

Think about about all great things that could happen if people knew how to actually have "crucial conversations" and even got some important issues addressed when you met. Imagine the positive impact that this could have on moving more business forward. Call me and let's connect. 1. 425.780-6872

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