Benefiting at work from Brain Based Insights

Seth calls it J.A.M. – just another meeting, and I call it brain dead babble. Either way, we’ve all lived Seth’s story …

“It was so typical. Eight people, the regular bunch. New client kick-off, business as usual. And it showed."

Yes, Seth, we’ve “done it before, and before that and before that. A dozen or a hundred or perhaps a thousand times before. The typical meeting, with everyone in their typical roles. Often, people even sit in the same spot.” Yikes!



Einstein too would likely have asked … “Why are we surprised, then, when the outcome is usually the same as well?”

Do you agree with Seth that … “maybe there's a different way?”

I liked the suggestion …”Instead of focusing on how similar this time is to last time, instead of realizing that the similarities demand similar approaches, maybe, just maybe, the team could focus on the differences. How is this opportunity different?”

What could we try that might have a radically better outcome?

The challenge comes in Seth's reminder …”Different isn't always better, but if all you want is the same, send a memo.”

Believe it or not ... the difference that is better .. is also one that would likely get people like you heard more effectively at the table. It takes a few facilitation skills and more....

To transform a meeting from boring is better to getting the best ideas heard -   involves risk. How so?  For one thing, others may well have better ideas than their leaders and the facilitated invitation to share these in doable terms.

That’s why it takes a leader like Seth at the table to pull it off. I’m in when it happens though. How about you?