Here are some interesting observations from office group meetings.
Office meetings are no different
From groups of human getting together
Human behaviour has an extensive range.
From shy to extroverted, bold to introverted
Myriad patterns of personalities
Manifest in business meetings.
There are those totally in charge
Setting the tones driving the agenda
There are those who are out to showcase skills at every opportunity.
There are others who are peacebuilders.
There are facilitators who are also great delegators.
They are resourceful in the absence of a leader.
There are those brimming with enthusiasm.
They are the ice breakers who reduce tensions.
There are the creativity enhancers.
They step beyond the box and think.
They can bring tangible and intangible to light.
They can be ambiguous or realistic in views.
There are contributors who just say a few words which make people rethink.
They may have voiced their opinion only after much thought.
There are those who blether on and on without consideration for others.
For they love to be the centre of attention.
They forget it is a meeting with a time & agenda.
Then there are the team players who actually enjoy meetups.
They are adaptable, versatile and happy to help.
They are the bond that binds one and all.
They are juxtaposed with the reserved and silent ones.
They are those who are uncomfortable with the attention.
They are the wallflowers who may have many views but are quiet in a group.
They are great to tap into to hear alternate views.
Have you noticed those who are physically there in a meeting but yet not there?
They are lost in a realm of their own
They are wanderers who are free spirits actually.
They hate to be restrained in one space for even a while.
There is just one issue they hardly pay attention and hence may be unproductive at meetings.
Have you also met the pessimistic who always think it won’t work?
They can bring down the spirits and the morale of an entire team.
There are also the argumentative who always have a counter view without thinking.
Then come to the detail-oriented
Who never leave anything to chance.
They come prepared and are diligent.
They are at risk of seeming too intense.
They, however, can pinpoint the errors.
Their questions can bring clarity to the team.
Finally, there are those who rarely attend.
They saunter in without an agenda.
They have no idea what the meeting is all about.
They have never bothered to find out either.
They still can be channelised through proper directions.
Lastly, let’s watch out for the perpetual latecomers.
They always may come in full of excuses but with the right interventions & time management skills.
They can be great contributors…
How many of these types have you observed in your office meetings?
Every person is unique, & likewise every meeting is thus equally unique.
Through a positive approach, when utilized in the right way for the right skills…
Everyone can then, greatly contribute to the productivity of a meeting.
In my earlier stint of working in the aviation industry, I had the privilege of working with a multitude of passengers day in and day out.
Handling VIP passengers, tough customers and dealing with difficult situations was an everyday affair. But it taught me patience and adaptability on the job and most importantly how to maintain a cool and pleasant disposition no matter the time of the day or the shift you are in.
Beyond the glamour was the grind and the rigours of the conformity in the service industry.
However there were some amazing takebacks & learnings for a lifetime with regards to people management especially customer service.
Sharing a few thoughts on Customer Care:
The best way to express customer care and what you can give any customer is your undivided attention.
It can be in the form of kind words, pleasant voice, empathetic smiles, nods and eye contact that work to show that you understand their needs or issues.
Psychologically it is equivalent to giving personal time, it aids to comfort people, reassure them, and make them feel good especially in moments of crisis, delays or disappointments.
Remember to avoid mechanical responses, choosing some people as favourites and treating them better.
Aim to treat every one of your customers as important.
Be understated and dont choose to embarrass the client with too much emphasis of the care you are giving. Aim to be classy and not overly effusive that it looks unnatural. Customers may even start apologizing for taking your time…
Aim to do your best every time. Your customers may not remember how you did it but remember you made them feel special. And that goes a long way!
There is much wisdom in integration, in finding meaning in the divergences.
What a poet relates of the truth in humanity.
What a scientist relates with theories of relativity
Are all drawn from the same well.
Of cosmic vibrations,
Of conscious awareness,
Of the eternal truths of life.
Where wisdom flows
There is Universal consciousness
Savvy
Here is a beautiful conversation I came across between the great minds, of Albert Einstein and Rabindranath Tagore…..when the two met and spoke at length.
Do take time to read this interesting dialogue between them in this article link below.
Umpteen number of years gone by Though I lost the count, Nature got it etched on my trunk. I can’t remember when I was a seed or sapling. Today I stand tall being a witness to the passing seasons. I wither and flourish, With each passing year My branches multiply tall and wide. Though my hands try to reach the passing clouds…
My roots stand firm grounded on the earth. My secret of longevity I adapt to the Nature Withering in Autumn Clad in snow in Winter Rising to be alive with Rains Flourishing in Spring. Though I may look barren at times My creeper friends cloth me in green Till my canopy is filled with greens. To nurture and nourish withstanding Time.
Anjana
I am truly happy to share the above verses for this is one of my mothers impromptu poems written in a flow, just a while ago, after I shared the above photo of a tree that I was drawn to capture with her.
Tall trees that seem to touch the sky …
devoid of leaves and blue skies with silver puffs of clouds floating by…
I am currently in France and while sitting in a bus stand admiring a tree at a distance, I decided to take this photo as I found myself drawn to capturing the vision of the sky from the ground below through the branches as a canopy of sorts.
Every manifestation of life is beautiful and significant in it’s own way. We often assume that a tree devoid of leaves is barren and ignore it. Yet there is so much to see and learn, respect & reflect from it.
I loved the above poem by her for many reasons one of which is because, it reflects the wisdom of nature, that flows through us all maintaining balance and sustaining us in life and living.
Art of Self Management for Self Employed & Entrepreneurs
If you are self employed it is certainly possible that you are actually having no downtime at all.
It is also likely that however rosy the picture is to be your own boss the truth is you are overworked and highly stressed as you are unable to delegate as compared to conventional job scenarios.
Maintaining work life balance is a continous work in progress.
The first step is working towards putting a good team in place.
You cannot managealone as your company grows . You need to be able to step back , step in and step up.
Avoid this inner conflict with yourself that as an entrepreneur you have to be hustling constantly all the time.
Avoid burnout… take a mini vacation time to time.
In today’s technological age you can step away and be aware and clued in on what’s happening at work easily.
Remember you are a human not a machine and you need to ease up as well.
Switch off to switch in.
Sleeping well is great way to destress but to boost your brain there is a way to renew your creative instincts
Simply Switch off from regular work
Switch in to a new or parallel interest .
Read explore paint draw dance sing write or research or reflect on complete opposite of what your regular schedule entails .
You will rewire your neural pathways to jumpstart your own creativity.
