Joyce Weiss

I work with organizations and individuals who want to kick conflict and chaos to the curb - Queen of Conflict Resolution and Communication Coach

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Did You Ever Facilitate a Meeting That Didn’t Go As Well As You Envisioned?

If so…you are not alone.

This blog post gives you tips to help you plan a very productive meeting.

I had the honor of  presenting a workshop to members of MI Society of Association Executives (MSAE) on BEST PRACTICES AS A FACILITATOR.

Thanks to Nichole Tilma (Director of Professional Development & Special Events for MSAE) who invited me to lead the workshop and to Kathy Bart (Director of Sales at Director at DeVos Place) who did a great job as a co-leader.

 

Kathy Bart, Joyce Weiss, and Nichole Tilma

We started out the program with an important distinction between the words facilitator and expert.

A facilitator is an individual whose job is to help manage a process of information exchange.  A facilitator helps HOW the discussion is proceeding.  Facilitators ask questions versus give answers.  An expert’s role is to offer advice and give answers.
It is important to know the difference because great facilitators understand their role and don’t take over the discussion.  They make sure the group moves forward.

I hope that you find the following best practices as a facilitator helpful:

Set Priorities

Find out what the audience needs to know, wants to know and why are there

Set Ground Rules Such as:

  • Turning off cell phones
  • No side bars with people whispering to each other
  • Checking egos at the door in order to have honest conversations
  • Stopping negativity

Encourage Everyone to Share Ideas by Asking the Group to:

  • Write down 3 ideas
  • Share these ideas with a partner
  • Discuss these ideas in small groups
  • Bring these ideas back to the large group

Have Fun During the Meeting

Bring small toys for the group to play with during the meeting

  • Koosh balls
  • Stress toys
  • Play dough
  • Bubbles

Take 30 Minute Stretch Breaks

  • Have the audience stand and do easy exercises
  • Share the best idea that they learned so far

Get The Group to Take Action by Using Debriefing Questions

  • The most important concept that you learned today is…
  • The first step that you will take is…
  • The biggest barrier that you will have to overcome is…
  • You will overcome the barrier by…

If you use these 5 best practices, your next facilitating meeting will be very successful.

Please send me your most challenging issue on how to facilitate your next meeting.

Also, send me your best practices and I will post them in a future blog…giving you credit!

Enjoy co-leader Katy Bart share what she learned from the session

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Let us hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

Feel free to share these tips with your team – Just be sure to give Joyce credit when you share or publish.

Sign up at the RSS feed on the blog site to be included in future blog posts from Joyce on this subject.

Until next time

Remember, YOU Get What YOU Tolerate!

Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP
Conflict Resolution Consultant & Accountability Coach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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How to Stay in Business for a LONG Time

Do you want to know how to stay in business for a really long time?

I was asked to share answers to this very important question to a very creative group -SE MI Entrepreneurs Association.
There were several generations in workplace represented in the packed room.

SE MI Entrepreneurs Association is designed to help members grow their business.
They provide training, network opportunities, information and valuable resources.

ZaLonya Allen, PhD is the Executive Director and did an excellent job letting the community know about this important event.

 

Here are the main points that I covered:

  • Learn from your mistakes and hopefully you wont repeat them.
  • “Failure is never final and success does not last forever.”
  • Be creative during slow times.  Take advantage of this time to write articles, contact former clients or re brand
  • Ask yourself the important question…Who is my client?  Stay focused and service to that market.
  • Don’t scatter yourself too thin by attempting to service to everyone.
  • Make smart financial decisions when hiring consultants and make sure to check on references.  (It is amazing how many
    people in the audience shared horror stories on this one!)
  • We are never there.  Continuous learning is constant and exciting.
  • Take time to re brand every few years to stay current and fresh.
  • Build relationships before asking for referrals or favors.
  • Learn skills in leadership consulting to get and give respect.
  • Constantly improve communication skills. Please let me know if you want me to share more ideas with you on this topic.
    Feel free to call me at 800.713.1926 or email:  Joyce@JoyceWeiss.com

Check out the tips that Dr ZaLonya Allen will use as a result of the program

Your conflict in the workplace consultant says… 

Remember to run away from energy vampires.
There are many possibilities.
We need to see them…believe me you will find them.
Make sure to run away from those telling you that there is no business anymore.

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Let us hear your thoughts in the comment section.

Feel free to share these tips with your team – Just be sure to give Joyce credit when you share or publish.

Sign up at the RSS feed on the blog site to be included in future blog posts from Joyce on this topic.

Until Next Time….
Remember, YOU GET WHAT YOU TOLERATE!

Joyce Weiss, M.A., CSP
Conflict in the Workplace Consultant

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So…You Want to Be a GREAT Listener?

Many of my clients ask me to include ideas in my training programs  on how we can become great listeners.

Effective listening skills will help improve our relationships and sales.  The next time you are in a conflict make sure and use this technique because it will help you gain control and concentrate on what is really being said.

We have to ask ourselves if it is more important to be right or to resolve a conflict.

Enjoy this 2 minute video and let me know what your most pressing communication challenge is in your own life.

The rest of this blog post contains the words included in the video.

Has anyone ever told you that you’re just not listening?
Do you ask a question and the other person tells you that you already asked the same question?

If so – not to worry.  We are all so busy doing the things that we do and at times our mind is on over load!
Here are a few reasons why people aren’t great listeners:

  • They are thinking of what they are going to say while the other person is talking
  • They tune out the person’s message because they don’t like what the other person is saying
  • They are thinking about what’s for lunch

Here’s the bold solutions tip for today:

  • Really focus on the person who is talking
  • Slow down your pace and concentrate only on what you are being told
  • Turn off all internal dialogue
  • Repeat what the other person just told you (parroting technique)

This one simple technique can help you become a GREAT listener.  You will see how others appreciate your concentration.  You will also see how others will listen better to you.  It may take a while to change your listening habits, but it will be worth the work since you will see how your relationships and sales will improve.

Was this helpful?
Let us hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Feel free to share these tips with your team – Just be sure to give Joyce credit when you share or publish.
Sign up at the RSS feed on the blog site to be included in future blog posts from Joyce on this subject.

For more information on Joyce’s accountability coaching and speaking please visit:  https://www.joyceweiss.com

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Creating Meetings That Rock!

I recently had the privilege of working with the greatest group of women during a conference when I was the keynote speaker.  The International Association of Administrative Professionals (IAAP) in the Bay City MI area planned a most successful meeting.  They brought in experts who spoke on topics pertaining to the needs of their members.  The door prizes were perfect for the group. Their enthusiasm showed when they won a prize.  The agenda was followed 100% and the meeting even ended a little early.

They asked me to speak on Take the Ride of Your Life:  Shift Gears for More Balance, Growth and Joy.  The audience couldn’t have been any more receptive to the ideas and their solutions on how to become more balanced is book material.

The following is a list of some tips that we discussed in the program:

  • Making time for yourself is not a luxury – it is a necessity
  • Make sure you are part of the balance equation
  • Balance is important for all 5 generations in the workforce today
    (I will be covering this topic in a future blog)
  • Setting boundaries at home and work for YOU is extremely important
  • Train your brain to find humorous things in life
  • You get what you tolerate

Below is a photo of the conference committee.

SANY0152_2

Kelly Vanzale is the person who originally contacted me to be the keynote speaker.  She is a professional who understands how to make speakers feel welcome and was instrumental in helping make the conference successful.

Below is a short video testimonial from Kelly.

Please send me the most pressing work/life balance challenge that you are experiencing in the comment box below.  I will reply to you and answer any questions that you may have for me.

Was this helpful? Let us hear your thoughts in the comment box below.

Feel free to share these tips with your team.  Just be sure to give Joyce credit when you share or publish.

Sign up at the RSS feed on the blog site to be included in future blog posts from Joyce on this subject.

Until next time – Remember – YOU GET WHAT YOU TOLERATE!

Joyce  🙂

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Developing Respect in the Workplace by Building Trust

I just worked with the MI TWP Association in Grand Rapids MI on a “Building Trust in Your Community Workshop.” The group was open to the ideas and participated in numerous group exercises.

Below is an exercise that I asked the audience to complete.

On the left side of a piece of paper write down the name of a person who you don’t get along with. Write down a few characteristics that describe this person. On the right side of the paper write down the name of a person who you get along with really well and write a few characteristics that describe this person

OK…now for the fun! Most of the time people tell me that the description of the person that they don’t get along with is NOT like the person doing the exercise. It is interesting because participants tell me that the description of the person who they get along with describes the person doing the exercise.

Here is the challenge: Personal bias gets in the way. We get along with people who are like us and many times have conflict with people who are NOT like us. Hopefully this will help the next time you have conflict with someone. Ask yourself if the differences between you and the other person is really the issue.

The definition of conflict is the following: “An open clash between groups or individuals.” It can be due to different ideas, behaviors communication styles or cultures. We all deal with conflict in different ways!

I hope that this tip will help you resolve your next conflict. Please look for a video tip on this subject in one of my next blogs.

Was this helpful?

Let us hear your thoughts in the comment section below.

Feel free to share this tip with your team-just be sure to give Joyce credit when you share or publish.

Sign up at the RSS feed on the blog site to be included in future blog posts from Joyce on this subject.

For more information, articles and podcasts, visit https://www.joyceweiss.com

Until next time!

Contact Joyce

Email: joyce@joyceweiss.com
Phone: 248-681-5831