by Caroline Leach | Apr 25, 2016 | Learning
How do you make the most of a virtual meeting, especially if you aren’t running it?
Here are 8 strategies to try for your next meeting.
Read materials in advance. If documents were circulated before the meeting, read them before the meeting. Jot down comments or questions that you want to address in the meeting.
Define what you want to accomplish. Make sure you know why you’re there. If you don’t, get clarity or don’t participate. Have 1 or 2 goals for what you want to get out of it or what you want to see happen as result.
Arrive 5 minutes early. Jumping on early allows you to greet people as they arrive and establish rapport through small talk. It’s a courtesy to your colleagues. And it signals that you’re organized in managing your time.
Turn on your webcam. Take advantage of technology by using the video feature. Establish eye contact and better connection with your colleagues. This will also keep you focused on the meeting, rather than on multi-tasking.
Establish rapport by asking about colleagues. If you’ve joined early and the meeting hasn’t officially begun, ask people how their day is going, what the weather’s like in their city or how another big project is progressing.
Project your voice with a smile. Even when speaking on the phone without video, I smile while I’m talking. Why? It makes your voice sound warmer, more knowledgable and more sincere.
Be one of the first people to jump in with a question or comment. Speaking up early establishes your presence in the meeting from the beginning. Colleagues will then look to you for your thoughts.
Be clear on next steps as the meeting wraps up. If the meeting leader doesn’t summarize next steps, offer up the next steps you will be taking. This often prompts the leader and others to do the same.
And when you’re in the driver’s seat, here’s what everyone should know about running virtual meetings. There are great strategies in Paul Axtell‘s post this month in Harvard Business Review.
What are your best virtual meeting strategies?
by Caroline Leach | Apr 24, 2016 | Learning
For many years, “learn Spanish” has been on my list of goals.
It’s part of my April adventure to study Spanish for at least 10 minutes every day.
And with language apps on my smartphone and tablet, it’s easy to study a few minutes a day, no matter where I am.
Why do I want to learn Spanish?
- First is to be able to work globally. Spanish is the second-most-spoken language in the world.
- Second is to connect with people more easily here in Southern California where Spanish is spoken by so many.
- And third is to build my brain with new mental connections.
Yet this hasn’t been a dream with a deadline. Until now.
My daughter is thinking about studying abroad in a year or so. At the top of her list are Spain and Argentina.
That creates a more compelling call to action for me to learn to speak Spanish. I want to be able to visit her and speak the language.
Now there’s a stronger “why.” This is what motivates people to take action. Simon Sinek says this powerfully in a TED talk related to his book, Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action.
By “why,” Sinek means, “What’s your purpose? What’s your cause? Why do you get out of bed in the morning?”
Now I have a very specific purpose for learning Spanish. And better yet, it has a deadline.
Why are you pursuing your most important goals?
by Caroline Leach | Apr 23, 2016 | Change, Learning
Is it possible to change in an instant?
Conventional wisdom says no. Change involves multiple steps. Change takes time. Change is hard.
Yet there is one thing you can change in a moment. What is it? Your mind.
You don’t need more than a moment to decide you will think in a different way. You will act in a different way. You will see the world in a different way.
Endlessly inspiring in this area is one of author Gretchen Rubin‘s “twelve commandments of happiness.”
Here it is . . .
“Act the way you want to feel.”
Not feeling so good, physically, emotionally or spiritually? Start acting the way you’d rather feel.
If you want to feel happy, start acting that way. If you want to feel energetic, bring a bounce to your step. If you want to feel valued, start by appreciating someone else.
And if changing your life in an instant seems too far fetched, try these tips from Nicolas Cole for how you can improve your life the most in a single day.
His best advice?
“Be today who you want to be tomorrow.”
Who do you want to be tomorrow?
Just start acting as if you already are that person.
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