Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

174. Fix Meetings: Transform Gatherings Into Meaningful Moments


Listen Later

Turn any meeting or get-together into a chance for deep connection and collaboration.

Whether you’re holding a team meeting or hosting a family get-together, the success of any gathering, says Priya Parker, isn’t about the perfect agenda or venue, but about the intentionality behind how you bring people together.

“90% of the success of any gathering happens before anyone enters the room,” says Parker. As the author of The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, and a strategic advisor who has helped organizations worldwide reimagine their gatherings, Parker believes that thoughtful preparation can turn any meeting, whether professional or personal, into a meaningful and memorable experience for all involved. “Intentionality is the first step,” she says, “to pause and ask: why are we doing this? What is the purpose? What is the need in this community or in this classroom or in this team?”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Parker joins Matt Abrahams to explore the art of meaningful gatherings, sharing practical strategies for everything from crafting invitations that prime engagement to designing powerful closings that leave a lasting impact. By being more thoughtful in bringing people together, we can transform ordinary meetings into extraordinary opportunities for connection and collaboration.

Episode Reference Links:

  • Priya Parker 
  • Priya’s Book: The Art of Gathering 
  • Ep.124 Making Meetings Meaningful, Pt. 1: How to Structure and Organize More Effective Gatherings 
  • Ep.125 Making Meetings Meaningful, Pt. 2: Key Ingredients for Effective Meetings 


Connect:

  • Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
  • Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
  • Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
  • Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
  • Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
  • Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn


Chapters:

  • (00:00) - Introduction
  • (01:52) - Intentionality in Everyday Conversations
  • (03:38) - Questioning the Purpose of Gatherings
  • (05:46) - The Power of Great Questions
  • (08:49) - Managing Heat in Conversations
  • (10:58) - Encouraging Participation Beforehand
  • (13:38) - Creating Impactful Endings
  • (16:04) - The Final Three Questions
  • (18:58) - Conclusion

  •     ********
    Get $50 off coaching today at Strawberry.me/tfts
    Become a Faster Smarter Supporter by joining TFTS Premium.    

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication TechniquesBy Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart

    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7
    • 4.7

    4.7

    644 ratings


    More shows like Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

    View all
    HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

    HBR IdeaCast

    237 Listeners

    TED Talks Daily by TED

    TED Talks Daily

    11,418 Listeners

    The McKinsey Podcast by McKinsey & Company

    The McKinsey Podcast

    381 Listeners

    TED Business by TED

    TED Business

    1,134 Listeners

    All Ears English Podcast by Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan

    All Ears English Podcast

    2,277 Listeners

    The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving by FirmsConsulting.com & StrategyTraining.com

    The Strategy Skills Podcast: Strategy | Leadership | Critical Thinking | Problem-Solving

    111 Listeners

    Cold Call by HBR Presents / Brian Kenny

    Cold Call

    189 Listeners

    Women at Work by Harvard Business Review

    Women at Work

    1,371 Listeners

    After Hours by TED Audio Collective / Youngme Moon, Mihir Desai, & Felix Oberholzer-Gee

    After Hours

    1,258 Listeners

    HBS Managing the Future of Work by Harvard Business School

    HBS Managing the Future of Work

    107 Listeners

    How to Be a Better Human by TED

    How to Be a Better Human

    1,389 Listeners

    Coaching Real Leaders by Harvard Business Review / Muriel Wilkins

    Coaching Real Leaders

    591 Listeners

    The So What from BCG by Boston Consulting Group BCG

    The So What from BCG

    219 Listeners

    HBR On Strategy by Harvard Business Review

    HBR On Strategy

    79 Listeners

    HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

    HBR On Leadership

    131 Listeners