Break The Rules To Rally Productivity

I broke the rules.  Everyone expects the speaker to speak from the front of the room, usually at a podium.  Speakers address a seated audience who is there to hear what the speaker has to say.  This is normal.  This is the routine everyone is used to.  I broke that normal routine on November 9^th when I addressed the American Society for Quality in Richland, Washington.

At times I was a roamer.  I moved about the room constantly changing positions as I engaged participation.  Yes, the audience participated.  I invited them to speak and get involved in the presentation.  My first objective was to Connect with this seated audience.  After sharing that my mission was to explore communication, I asked them if it was worthwhile for them to learn new skills, resources and build goal driven teamwork.  They were all on board with that.

We all then experienced a Challenge that gets in the way of communication and team building.  I was sharing a great resource for dealing with challenges called the MOVVE!™ Guidelines.  It was so satisfying to see how everyone was able to learn them.  I shared the first Guideline that “It’s OK to be Uncomfortable” when in the pursuit of goals.  After I revealed that first one, I asked a table or two or three, to voice it back.  My oh my, how quickly people learn when they’re expected to apply new information.  Accountability ignites productivity!    Then unexpectedly, the second Guideline was demonstrated when someone else answered a question instead of the person that was asked.

This was a Hallmark learning moment.  It’s too bad there wasn’t a card or camera handy.  “Don’t Band-aide” is the second Guideline and it works because of the third one which is “It’s OK to Ask for Help.” You see when you band-aide someone, you negate those feelings and emotions that come rushing in when faced with a challenge.  Whether it is apprehension or excitement, your intervention shortchanges their opportunity to deal with a challenge.  Remember, if they do get stuck, they have that third Guideline, right?  A Band-aide is a good way to paralyze someone’s self-esteem by “rescuing” their experience.  Don’t we EARN our self-esteem by getting through stressful experiences?

These participants continued to Co-Create with me as they read out loud the words that flashed from my powerpoint screen.  Sure, they were a little disjointed at first, but they got much better as we went along.  Teamwork in action!  Then, would you believe that a group of these seated spectators actually got out of their chairs to help deliver the presentation?  That’s right, I asked for volunteers and they rose like a phoenix.

Since these volunteers were to animate the fable I read, I asked those seated participants what kind of performance they wanted.  After all, these volunteers were now blatantly exposed in the front of the largest ASQ group in years.  They were probably feeling anxious and embarrassed so shouldn’t we just let them walk through their parts and get it over with quickly?  No, the audience wanted more, much more, so they all teamed together and joined the presentation.

Those seated team players agreed to Celebrate every action by yelling out the new names the volunteers picked up for the fable.  They would also scream out all the sound effects to illustrate the importance of every action.  They all rose to the occasion and delivered that encouraging vocal support people relish when they step outside their comfort zone and take risks.

All in all, it was a spectacle of learning fueled by emotions, laughter and action.  When you want to Commit people to improving their communication, emotional intelligence and team building, then you want a speaker who can MOVVE!™ participants.  MOVVE!™ is my goal delivery process where the motto “Actions Create Change” becomes visible reality.  I brought learning to life with the 5 Cs of Communication which is one of my MOVVE!™ Actions.

As you might have suspected, those 5 C’s are Connect, Challenge, Co-Create, Celebrate and Commit.  Rather than just telling folks about them, MOVVE!™ sets the stage for learning through application.  So when you’re ready for productive action, let me know and I’ll coach you to become a MOVVE!™ Master.  You will improve communication and emotional intelligence skills as you build goal seeking teamwork to ensure success. Break those traditional rules and make your MOVVE!™ today!

Here is my contact info:

James Cox M.Ed., (509) 947-1694  James@the-empowerment-group.com

Tags: American Society for Quality, ASQ, awareness, communication, determination, different perspective, dream, emotional intelligence, emotionality, feelings, goal setting, happy endings, Imagination, Intelligence, knowledge, listening, motivate, motivation, MOVVE, Movver, perceptions, perspective, talking, target, team building

 Print This Post Posted in General 21 Comments