Create Awesome Meetings Podcast: Business Communication Skills | Effective Meetings | Organizational Learning | Management

Are your meetings a disaster? As in… the facilitator is incompetent and the participants are running the zoo?

Would you like to learn a fast way to turn your meetings from bad into awesome?

Well, then today’s episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is perfect for you because it is all about helping you learn how to hire a Professional Meeting Facilitator. In this episode you’ll learn:

Why hiring a Professional Meeting Facilitator is a great investment

How to ask the right kinds of questions that will help you hire a great Professional Meeting Facilitator

What you should expect when you hire a Professional Meeting Facilitator

Why it is so important to bring in an objective outsider who can help you sort through and prioritize you key issues

How a Professional Meeting Facilitator can help you connect your meeting directly to your organization strategy

A professional meeting facilitator is someone who has the right experience, credentials, and confidence to help you have an awesome meeting. They are objective - won’t put up with your current crap - and they will give you all the options you need to make your meetings successful.

And if all of your meetings were successful, can you imagine what type of impact that would have on your bottom line?

Quotes:

“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”

~Colin Powell~

“Happiness does not come from doing easy work but from the afterglow of satisfaction that comes after the achievement of a difficult task that demanded our best.”

~Theodore Isaac Rubin~

And if you'd like even more great meeting productivity improvement tips and inspriation then check out the Meeting Leadership Podcast!

Send an email with CAM 022 in the subject line to [email protected] to get the FREE download!

When you’re in a meeting, how do you act? Do you check your phone, cross your arms and fall asleep?

Or do you come prepared, keep your energy up and inspire everyone else in the room?

Do you want to learn how to become the best that you can be during a meeting?

Well, then today’s episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is perfect for you, because it is all about helping you learn how to take responsibility for yourself. In this episode you’ll discover how to:

Ask yourself the right kinds of questions that will enable you to choose how you act during a meeting

Find a variety of tools to become more self-aware

Seek out a mentor who will help you grow personally and professionally

Demonstrate that by taking control of yourself during meetings, you actually make your organization stronger and more

Quotes:

“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”

~Viktor Frankl~  Neurologist and Psychiatrist

“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”

~Isaac Newton~ Physicist and Mathematician

Link:

Million Women Mentors

And if you'd like even more great meeting productivity improvement tips and inspriation then check out the Meeting Leadership Podcast!

Send an email with CAM 021 in the subject line to [email protected] to get the FREE download!

Do you and your colleagues follow up after each meeting? If the answer is yes, congratulations. But if the answer is ‘sort of’, ‘not really’ or ‘no’, then you may be leaving money on the floor.

Consistent meeting follow-up is rare, but if you learn how to follow up effectively you can literally improve the bottom line for any organization you work or volunteer for.

So, to help you improve your odds when it comes to following up consistently after your meetings, today’s episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is dedicated to giving you all of the tips and inspiration you'll need, including how to:

Use the word FAST itself as a handy acronym to help you be more consistent when it comes to following up

Figure out why it’s worth following up by making a list of your ‘top five reasons to follow up’

Ask your staff about how they want to give and receive feedback

Astonish each other by following up quickly and efficiently

Make a checklist so you can standardize your follow up process

Assign someone other than the meeting leader to gather data during meetings, and make sure they track the key points in a fluid data system

Figure out the right level of money and resources you should invest to effectively follow up after a meeting

How To Use The Word F-A-S-T:

F - Feedback Loop

A - Astonish Each Other

S - Standardize The Follow Up Process

T - Track Progress

Send an email with CAM 020 in the subject line to [email protected] to get the FREE download!

Quote:

“Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”

Benjamin Franklin, A Founding Father of the United States

Do your colleagues actually listen to what you’re saying during a meeting? Or do they pay more attention to their phones?

Would you and your team like to learn how to listen more effectively so you can have awesome meetings?

If the answer is yes, then this episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is for you. In this episode you’ll learn how to:

Get interested - because ‘the most interesting people are those who are the most interested’

Repeat what you’ve heard so that whoever was talking feels acknowledged

Say the person's name when you respond, because we all love the sound of our own name

Remember what you appreciate about who’s talking, and if there isn’t much then make something up

Talk less

Make eye contact

Turn off your phone

Allow people to finish what they are saying

Pick the right time to say your answer instead of just blurting it out before someone finishes speaking

Relax and be present

Send an email with CAM 019 in the subject line to [email protected] to get the FREE download!

Quote:

“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”

Greek Philosopher Epictetus

Have you ever been in a fight during a meeting? Have you ever watched your colleagues yell at each other during a meeting?

Would you like to learn how to fight so you can really get along?

If so, then this episode of the Create Awesome Meetings podcast will be perfect for you and your team. In this episode you’ll learn how to:

Save time and money by learning how to disagree more efficiently

Become aware of your negative behaviour during a meeting

Create a ‘fight-style’ inventory, as in, who is shy, too aggressive etc.

Understand why it is worth disagreeing

Never let a bad idea out of the room because of a fight

Never put up with the status quo

Establish your own unique set of meeting fight ground rules

Make disagreements about the issue and not about the person

Stop the discussion if it becomes too personal or if voices are raised

Ensure that once a decision is made, then everyone supports it

Bring in a professional Professional Meeting Facilitator or Meeting Mentor if necessary

Because no matter what type of meeting you’re in, learning how to fight effectively will definitely make it more productive.

Send an email to [email protected] to get the FREE download!

Are you in a job where you have meetings that are not in rooms? Like on a construction site or at a Nursing station?

Do you ever have to meet off-site, away from the office in places like hotels or convention centres?

Would you like some practical tips and inspiration that will help you turn these unique spaces into meeting productivity opportunities? Well, you’re in the right place because episode 17 of the Create Awesome Meetings is all about optimizing meetings that are not in traditional rooms.

And please keep in mind that this is 'Part 2' of a two-part series about meeting spaces. If you have not had a chance to listen to Part 1 you can simply check it out here.

Where You Meet Matters

Now ‘I believe that where you meet is as important as what you’re meeting about - and with that in mind here is a four-step framework that you can apply to any space that you meet in.

The Four Step Framework To Help You Create An Awesome Meeting Space:

Step 1: Ask practical questions like...

On a Construction Site or out in the Wilderness: What time of day are we going to be meeting?

In an Open Area: What type of information are you talking about? Is it confidential?

In-Town, Off-Site: What is the reputation of the destination staff?

Step 2: Ask people questions like...

On a Construction Site or out in the Wilderness: Is there a trained meeting facilitator in the group?

In an Open Area: Are there any patients or family members nearby?

In-Town, Off-Site: Will an off-site meeting be a motivator for our staff?

Step 3: Ask spatial questions like...

On a Construction Site or out in the Wilderness: Is it too noisy to be heard properly?

In an Open Area: Do you have to keep your voice down?

In-Town, Off-Site: Do they have the right capacity and styles of rooms for your type of meetings?

Step 4: Ask inspiring questions about the meeting room like...

On a Construction Site or out in the Wilderness: Can you take a moment to acknowledge the outdoor setting and be inspired by it?

In an Open Area: How can you connect this meeting to your organization strategy?

In-Town, Off-Site: Can we book an awesome guest speaker?

And if you want even more detailed answers then it is definitely worth listening to the podcast!

Send an email to [email protected] to get the FREE download!

What does your meeting space look like? Are the tables sticky? Are there broken chairs and old papers lying around?

Does your meeting room make you want to run away screaming?

I believe that where you meet is as important as what you’re meeting about.

So in today's episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast, we’re talking about where you and your team meet on a regular basis. And please keep in mind that this is 'Part 1' of a two-part series about meeting spaces. 'Part 1' deals with helping you improve spaces like your board room or staff room.

In 'Part 2' you'll learn how to optimize the places that you meet that are not in rooms, as in, on a construction site or at a nursing station etc. And ultimately, after listening to these two episodes, along with the free downloads, then you'll be able to turn where you meet into a productivity improvement opportunity!

And to help you break down all of the detail that goes into creating an awesome meeting space, I have created a 4-step framework.

The Four Step Framework To Help You Create An Awesome Meeting Space:

Step 1: Ask practical questions like...

Do we need to book the room?

Does the room have a projector, screen, sound system, and connections for computers?

Who do we call if something goes wrong?

Step 2: Ask people questions like...

How many people are coming?

Are people getting along and who should sit beside who?

Step 3: Ask spatial questions like...

Can we all hear each other and see each other in this room?

What style of meeting are we having (ie. lecture, group work) and what shape should the room be in?

Step 4: Ask Inspiring Questions About The Meeting Room...

Should we post our strategic Vision, Mission and Objectives?

Does this space support the unique culture of our organization?

Creating an inspiring meeting space can make your meetings more productive, which will ultimately help your organization to be more profitable!

Send an email to [email protected] to get the FREE download!

Have you ever had a moment where the printer won’t work? Or that guy in HR opened another email he wasn’t supposed to and the whole network got infected?

Would you like to know the right way to having a meeting with your IT guy when something like this happens and you want to get it fixed fast?

Then this episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is for you!.

That's because you're going to hear a fantastic interview with Ben Habing, an IT expert with over 20 years of experience in all levels of IT from dealing with small business to servicing multi-million-dollar contracts for large companies. In this episode Ben shares a ton of great IT meeting insights including:

Being relentless about defining the business problem itself, and THEN choosing an IT solution to meet the need

Making sure that you have left no question unanswered so that there can be no surprises when it comes to implementation

Preventing any language barriers between the business owner and the IT technician to ensure that everyone understands each other

Making sure the client understands what happens if their system goes down (from fire, flood, failed hardrive etc.) and what steps will be taken if it does

How to empathize with each other because everybody has a job to do

Why being open and honest is the best way to do business during an IT meeting

How to prevent over-spending by establishing clear project requirements

How to establish a clear Return-On-Investment from your IT spend, as in, do you want to earn $, reduce costs, or both?

Why establishing the right back-up process is so important

How to set up high expectations within the IT agreement itself

How to not get bamboozled by the latest IT fad and ensure that you only implement what you need

‘When in doubt, do without’

Why IT is not magic, it's just engineering

Why IT should be treated like a marriage (because often you'll be spending more time with your IT guy than your spouse anyway)

Why it is critical to have the right people in an IT meeting and to follow a clear meeting agenda

Ben's Top 3 IT Meetings Suggestions

Be clear about the business problem you are trying to solve, and THEN figure out the appropriate IT solution

Be calm during a meeting with your IT provider and remember that everyone has a job to do

Clearly understand what Return-On-Investment you want from your IT solution, and don't overspend on bells and whistles that you don't need

About Ben Habing

Ben has been wielding a keyboard since he was nine. He has spent almost 20 years working in IT, holding various roles from Systems Administrator, Senior Systems Engineer, Infrastructure Architect, IT Manager, Technical Process Manager, Director of Strategy & Business Development to most recently CEO.

He has led several technical support teams, implemented numerous enterprise applications, server and infrastructure systems all with a focus on delivering value to the business Ben is a veteran of the dot-com bust and after climbing the inner sanctums of IT; he made the jump over to quality and governance, and finally into leadership.

This has given Ben, one of the unique perspectives of being able to talk the tech-talk and understand the need for adoption of service quality and business fundamentals in the sometimes-unhallowed walls of IT.

Ben, consults full-time now with his company, Vivify Technology Inc. helping companies enliven their technology to enable them to run their business more effectively anywhere. You can get in touch with Ben at [email protected].

Links Mentioned In This Episode

www.vivifytech.com

Send an email to [email protected] to get the FREE download!

How are your meetings going? Bad? Good? Or in the worst case scenario maybe your meetings are just OK. Like you know they could be better, but instead you're choosing to just go with the flow.

What if you could find a low-cost solution to help you turn your meetings from bad to awesome! Well if you'd like this to happen then today's episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast will be perfect for you and your whole meeting team.

Because today you'll learn how to successfully work with a Meeting Mentor. This is someone within your organization who loves running meetings AND they are good at it AND they want to help you improve your overall meeting effectiveness. Some of the great concepts you'll gain from listening include:

How to find a Meeting Mentor

A simple three-step process for working with a Meeting Mentor that will help you get fast results

How to build a Meeting Mentorship Culture

The advantage of working with an internal person vs. an external person

How working with a Meeting Mentor will help you improve overall productivity and profitability

The Five Steps To Help You Build A Meeting Mentorship Culture

Acknowledge that you need a Meeting Mentor

Find a Meeting Mentor

Work with a Meeting Mentor

Review what happened with your meeting team

Build a Meeting Mentorship Culture

Send an email to [email protected] to get the FREE download!

Are you looking for a once-in-a-lifetime destination in the Canadian Rockies to book your next corporate meeting?

Do also you want to ensure that your event is seamless? Then this episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is for you! That's because you're going to hear from Barb Wallace, the Manager of Conference Services and Catering at the world-class Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.

In this episode Barb shares great destination meeting insights including:

How the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is set in an overwhelmingly beautiful location with all kinds of unique opportunities from golf, to skiing to climbing and more

How the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel provides a seamless experience for your corporate events

Why the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel has created special position for a 'Conference Concierge' who is available 24 hours a day to make sure your event is perfect

How the hotel chefs provide 'unsurpassable' meal choices and cater to all dietary concerns

How PSAV ensures that all audio-visual concerns are taken care of

Why the website is so easy to use and has everything you need from menus to photos and more (www.fairmont/banffsprings.com)

Why the staff has actually tried so many of the dishes as well as experiencing the amenities, which allows them to speak confidently with all guests

Why Fairmont partners with JD Power and Associates to gather guest feedback which allows them to consistently improve

Why you should check out www.tripadvisor.com to learn more about what people are saying about this destination

Why it's important for the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel to give back to the community

Why environmental excellence is so important

How they can expertly handle groups of any size from 8 - 800 and more

Why you'll love swimming in the outdoor pool as the snow gently falls and you're looking out over the Canadian Rocky Mountains

Barb's Top 3 Corporate Meeting Booking Suggestions

Be aware of what time of year you want to book a destination meeting in the Rocky Mountains so you can take proper of advantage of amenities like world class golf in the summer or fantastic skiing in the winter

Get started by checking out floorplans, menus, photos and more on www.fairmont.com/banffsprings, and then brainstorm with the highly trained staff to customize an awesome destination meeting experience

Learn as much as possible about both what the hotel and the surrounding area have to offer so you don't miss any once-in-a-lifetime opportunities

About Barb Wallace

Barb Wallace is the Manager of Conference Services and Catering (CSM) at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. With more than 27 years of experience Barb is the perfect liaison between guests, clients and all hotel teams. She ensures that all the details of your stay are properly carried out and that the planning and execution of your event is top-knotch. You can get in touch with Barb at [email protected]

Links Mentioned In This Episode

www.fairmont.com/banffsprings

www.tripadvisor.com

PSAV - http://canada.psav.com/

JD Power and Associates - http://canada.jdpower.com/

Send an email to [email protected] to get the FREE download!