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Team Building: Nine Ways Johnny
Carson Can Help You Run Outstanding Meetings and Better Team Building
By Ed Sykes © 2005 all Rights Reserved
Recently, America lost one of the giants of late night television, Johnny
Carson. He was a master at his craft, because he would conduct his show,
essentially like a ninety minute meeting. The program would be entertaining,
insightful, informative, and leave you wanting more.
Many
times we fear going to meetings or briefings because we feel, based on past experiences, that
they are going to be boring, not relevant, lack information, and we can’t wait
until the meeting ends.
Here
are my eight techniques used by Johnny Carson to make your meetings or briefings outstanding
for all involved:
1.
Do Your Research for Better Team Building
Johnny
Carson would invest time before each show to find out information on what was
important to his guests and audience members. He would find out about his
guests’ personalities, their interests, and concerns.
Why
not do the same? E-mail the participants with your agenda before the meeting.
Ask them for feedback or any concerns they may have concerning the meeting.
This allows you address any concerns before the meeting and to think through any
potential problems and come up with better answers for solutions during the
meeting.
2.
Plan the Meeting for Better Team Building
Master
the details for your meeting. Set an agenda with points to be covered and the
time period for which they will be covered.
3.
Invite Only the
“Guests” That Can Contribute for Better Team Building
When
Johnny was finished speaking with one guest, then it was time to bring out his
next guest and engage in conversation with that guest. When he finished
speaking with his guests he would excuse them so they could leave.
Invite
only the “guests” that are relevant to subject matter at hand. How many times
have you wondered, “Why am I here, this meeting doesn’t pertain to me?” Also
once your “guest” has contributed to the meeting and there is nothing else in
the meeting that pertains to them, excuse them so they can leave.
4.
Keep on Time for Better Team Building
You
knew every night the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson would start at its assigned
time (unless there was a special event).
Starting you meeting on time shows respect for the participants who made the
effort to show up on time, and let’s the late comers know that this behavior is
unacceptable.
Also
designate one person to be the time keeper. They are responsible for keeping
you on track to stay within the time limits for each subject covered in the
meeting. The results are that you start on time and end on time while
accomplishing your meeting agenda.
5.
Set the Tone for Better Team Building
Johnny
would stand up and greet each guest with an engaging smile and welcome. Do the
same with your meeting participants. Put them at ease for more informational
meetings. Let them know that you really appreciate their feedback and
participation.
6.
Engage the Participants for Better Team Building
Johnny
would continue the flow of the conversation with his guests by asking follow-up
questions or summarize what they said.
Ask
additional questions to draw out important information with your meeting
participants. Say the following:
Tell
me more about…
That’s
an interesting viewpoint, please explain further…
If I
understand what you are saying…
If
there are participants that are quiet, make it safe for them to give feedback or
suggestions. Say the following:
“Mike,
we would really like to hear your ideas on…
“Jane,
you look like you really want to add something important to the discussion,
please tell us.”
Once
they make their comments say, “Thanks for your valuable comments. I look
forward to you contributing more insights in the future.”
7.
Make the Meeting Participants the Stars for Better Team Building
Johnny Carson had a way of letting his guests, whether they were infamous or
famous, be celebrities on the Tonight Show. He allowed them to tell their jokes
and witty stories, as well as complimented them, so that the stars were and
ultimately the show was successful.
You
can do the same for your staff in meetings. You could dominate the meeting and
develop all the ideas yourself. You wouldn’t accomplish much because the
meeting participants would have no sense of ownership and would be slow to
initiate your ideas. Or you can encourage the participants to contribute ideas
so that they take ownership of the ideas and take responsibility for
implementing their ideas. Also, acknowledge and reward these “solution
creators” in front of the group.
Let
them shine!
8.
End the Meeting the Right Way for Better Team Building
While
excusing his guests, Johnny would sincerely thank them for coming on the show
and compliment them on their contributions. The guests left with a good feeling
and always wanted to come back again and again.
Make
sure you thank the meeting participants for their time and contributions. Let
them know how they made a difference in the meeting. If there were solutions
created in the meeting, communicate what is the clear course of action to
accomplishing those solutions. Express your confidence that you know that these
solutions will be achieved.
9.
Follow-up, Follow-up, Follow-up for Better Team Building
Johnny
Carson would talk about how great a show was because of a guest. This was
another way to make the guests on his show feel special.
Send
an e-mail to all relevant employees, whether they were in the meeting or not,
explaining what was covered in the meeting, what was decided on in the meeting,
and what course of action we are taking.
Also
again, acknowledge key people in the meeting for their contributions.
Your meeting should be a place of information,
empowerment, and motivation. Follow these nine techniques used by the
master of late night and your meeting or briefing will be outstanding.
Suggested reading:
Employee
Motivation, Don Imus, and Team Building: Five Secrets of Motivated Teams
Ten Quick Tips for Outstanding
Presentations
Dr. Seuss's "The Cat in the Hat" Will Help You Get
Your Point Across! (Yes you can, here's the plan!)
How to Set Boundaries and Say No
Every Super Hero Needs Theme Music. What’s Yours?
Seven Secrets to
Being the Leader Everyone Wants to Follow
Five Secrets to Becoming the Perfect Employee
That Everyone Wants – Part One
Have You Appreciated Someone Today?
You Mean I Need to
Promote Myself to Get a Promotion? 5 Promotion Secrets to Get the Job You Want!
Five Secrets to
Gaining Credibility with Your Team for Outstanding
Results
Five Secrets to
Creating a "Goal" Medal Life - Part 2
How Appetizing Is
Your Feedback? (5 Steps to Giving Effective Feedback)
Five Secrets to Creating a
"Goal" Medal Life
Ten Techniques for
Motivating Others Through Chaos
10
Action Steps to Motivate Yourself to Great Accomplishments
Eight Ways to Motivate
Part-Time Employees
Delegate to Accelerate Success
(How to Prepare
Yourself and Others for Success)
Appreciate to Motivate
(The Key to Successful Team Building)
The
Greatest Gift of All - The Gift of Empowerment
Leadership Secrets for Challenging Times
Goal Setting Secrets to Jumpstart Your Life
Want to learn how to run meeting and build a powerful, self-directed, high
producing team employees? Our
Team Building,
Life After Downsizing,
How to Develop the Leader Within You,
Time Management Skills to Achieve More, and
How to Handle Workplace Stress and Master Your Life programs can
help you lead others to the next level. Please read our
articles on motivation, team building, and goal setting, etc. Call us at 757-427-7032 or
e-mail us at
info@thesykesgrp.com.
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