Better Meetings for Everyone™
Volume 13, Issue 4
Publisher Jana M. Kemp
- What’s the Best Thing that Happened in 2006?
- Seen Elsewhere: Meeting Room Technologies - Update
- Meeting Quote
- Tools & Tips – Training Module Designer
- Meetings@Work
What’s the Best Thing that Happened in 2006?
By Jana M. Kemp
During hectic year-end times, the stress can catch up with us to the point that we forget to focus on the good things that happened during the preceding year. Even in change-filled and sad or frustrating years, there are shining moments worth remembering.
Ask people at the office this week, “what’s the best thing that happened to you in 2006?” You may be surprised to hear of great moments at work, of surprising moments created by a step-child, of personal power found and renewed, of health challenges you didn’t know about being overcome by a family, or even to hear a long list of best-things from one person. Engaging others in this conversation sets an upbeat tone for kicking-off 2007.
If people happen to struggle, consider asking the question at the first staff meeting of 2007. The team may need prompting with such ideas as: the cash-drawers balanced at every closing. Or, we received a larger grant than expected for our good-works to continue. Or, all of our new products sold like crazy this year. Or even, we picked up a new client that we look forward to working with for many years to come.
Some people refer to this exercise as a “gratitude list” still others refer to it as “focusing-on-the-good so that more of it comes into your life.” The point overall is to spend some time celebrating what went well, what is worth remembering, and what you want to bring more of into your life and into your work experiences.
When we focus on the shining moments as one year ends, the incoming year begins with renewed hope and excitement for the good things ahead in all parts of our lives.
Meeting Room Technologies - Update
After the third-quarter Better Meetings for Everyone Newsletter hit your inbox, several of you contacted me about your company use of telepresence technologies. One of the most intriguing is from Hewlett-Packard, in Boise, Idaho.
Here’s a brief introduction, from the HP website: www.hp.com/halo/
“HP Halo: Light years beyond video conferencing. Be there without going there.
Imagine being able to meet face-to-face with colleagues on the other side of the world as if you were in the same room—with no perceived video or audio delays, and none of the typical video conference hassles. Picture seeing your colleagues in full-size images that appear so life-like around a shared virtual conference table that you forget they are 10,000 miles away. That is HP Halo, a completely unique experience and the future of telepresence.”
And the Associated Press reported in December 2006 that family dinners are also using the virtual technology to share dinner-times despite being separated by hundreds or thousands of miles.
“If you are not moving ahead, then you are falling behind.” – unknown
Are you in need of training modules – already prepared or custom-designed for your workplace?
Susan Otto documents and designs Instructor and Participant Guides – both “off-the-shelf” and customized. Her niche is creating training with an adult learning focus, including games and activities to augment the content. Her emphasis is on performance outcomes that “stick.” In fact, she designed the decision-making module based on the book NO! How One Simple Word Can Transform Your Life (AMACOM, 2005).
Please tell Susan that I sent you for a 5% discount on any “off-the-shelf” module purchase. Check it out at http://training-modules.com/
www.JanaKemp.com
Looking for a meeting facilitator, a conference speaker or a workshop presenter on the subjects of meetings, time management or decision-making?
Then, visit www.JanaKemp.com for information on these services and conference presentations.
