Observation     Business Topics     Closing     Pictures     Evaluation Results

10/28/13 – 12/18/13
by Joe Tassinari, WE Coach

Now that we’ve completed a full session of Workplace Enrichment (one workshop and three coached staff meetings) I'm sharing the following observations.  

The workshop, held 10/28/13 established comfort and understanding among the participants. By the end of the workshop the executive team of Smart Building, Inc. were openly interacting and sharing views with one another. They arrived to a place of peacefulness and proved to themselves that positive interaction could be achieved.

Our first staff meeting, 11/6/13, supported the vibe of comfort that we had accomplished by the end of the initial workshop. We progressed through the meeting with civility, respect and group awareness.  Of course, with practice, maintaining the feeling of togetherness will become easier as the group becomes more skilled in its pursuit. 

This first meeting was facilitated by the coach and included brief exercises on "How to Facilitate". The participants arranged a schedule of when they would take turns as meeting facilitator. The meeting facilitator provides the agenda, selects the meeting topic and any activities. Their goal is to provide each participant with an equal turn and move through the meeting within the allotted time (90 min.).

The 11/20/13 meeting was postponed until 12/4/13.

Our second staff meeting, 12/4/13, was facilitated by one of the employees. The facilitator's job is to ensure that each person has an equal turn and that the meeting moves along. The front desk person was invited to join the meeting with the executive management team. The meeting went relatively smoothly with each person sharing and participating with kindness. Near the end of the meeting there was a confrontation between two of the participants which was quelled  with a call to action. 

Each person was invited to stay after the meeting for a resolution process. Everyone (8 people) stayed. Each person was asked to write one thing that the the "two people involved" were doing well and one thing that they could improve on. Six slips of paper were delivered to the two colleagues for them to read at a later time. We then had an open forum which brought a sense of calm and resolution to the matters at hand. The resolution process was directed towards clarity, positivity and solutions.

The third (and final) coached staff meeting was conducted on 12/18/13 and facilitated by the owner. There was a noticeable feeling of calmness and ease of participation among the meeting attendees. The business topics garnered from the previous meeting were reviewed and the outcomes were successfully met.

The meeting topic was based on an Inc. Magazine article "10 Things Extraordinary People Say Every Day". Each participant mentioned one thing that resonated with them. After each person had a turn with reporting on "their role" with the company it was determined that the next meeting's "topic" would be a tutorial on Google Calendar. 

The facilitator's agenda followed the Workplace Enrichment template and contained 10 topics to be covered in the 90 minute time frame. Each participant was given a turn with each agenda item and delivered with skill and ease. As their coach and as a witness to this group of colleagues I can proclaim that the "Practice of WE" a success!

Imagine your next staff meeting, each participant receiving ten separate turns … all the while becoming an expert at speaking in front of your group, becoming proficient at being understood, and establishing their role as an integral part of a positive team. Staff meetings delivered with kindness, ease and fun!  Sign up now.

Please view the evaluation results from the, Smart Building, Inc. staff.

WE participants and readers of this blog, are welcome to comment in the reply section of this post.
(return to top)

Meeting Business Topics,11/7/13
by Joe Tassinari

The Workplace Enrichment model was rolled out for the first time on October 28 (workshop) and followed by three coached staff meetings on November 6, December 4 and December 18, 2013.  

Workplace Enrichment is the practice of feeling at ease in the presence of our coworkers. It turns staff meetings into gatherings where participants share information about business as well as practice being comfortable while together. This is done by including relationship building items along with business items on the meeting agenda.

Smart Building, Inc. hired me to facilitate the practice of WE – a one day workshop followed by three coached staff meetings. As of this post, the workshop (training) and all three staff meetings have taken place. 

For the business part of the meeting, each person had a turn relating what they believe would be pertinent to the rest of the group. During the 1st staff meet, held on 11/6/13, each of the participants took turns with the goal of a 5-minute presentation including Q&A. Everyone was able to stay within the 4-7 minute range. One turn took 20 minutes but much was accomplished. 

The participants were able to achieve "a successful turn" at the first attempt which was due to a great suggestion by one of the participants; i.e., have each person say: 1. What they're up to. 2. How is this going. 3. What's on the horizon. This is currently the working model for the business topics within the practice of Workplace Enrichment. 

Business Topics 

• Each person gets an equal turn.
• Try and keep each turn around 5 minutes for delivery with Q&A. .
• Focus on: 1. What's going on now. 2. How it is going. 3. What's coming up.
• Mention what is relevant to the entire group. 
• Be prepared for your turn.

Please use the reply section to comment or ask questions.
(return to top)

Closing the Meeting, 12/9/13
by Joe Tassinari

The last agenda item for the staff meeting is a "Closing". The person who will be facilitating the next staff meeting takes notes of pertinent information derived from the "business topics" part of the current meeting. During the closing this person (the next facilitator) repeats what was said to reinforce it. Afterwards, this person prints these notes as "findings" on the agenda for the subsequent meeting. 

Note: Part of the Workplace Enrichment process includes the meeting participants taking turns as the meeting facilitator. The facilitator role is to ensure that each participant gets and equal turn and that the meeting moves along in an enjoyable manner. 

Please use the reply section to comment or ask questions.
(return to top)

Pictures, 12/13/13
by Joe Tassinari

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the team generating input during the 1st staff meeting on 11/06/13.

Ivan, Carlos, Greg, Mayra, JR, Sheryl, Dave posing for a picture during our 2nd staff meeting on 12/04/13.
You'll notice in the back it states "Smart People" and "Smart Service". I second these statements. This staff is "smart" to learn Workplace Enrichment so they can become good at communicating as a positive and respectful team of colleagues.
The owner supplied fresh orange juice and bagels which made the meeting festive.

(return to top)

WE Evaluation Results