Being Intentional
We're big fans of the "What We Do in the Shadows" series and of the filmmaker and actor Taika Waititi in our house. This scene of the Council of Energy Vampires meeting makes me giggle. I hope it brings you some smiles too! I also know the experience of energy draining meetings will be painfully familiar to many of us!
How we come together at work matters. A lot. It's the space where relationships are deepened. Where plans take place, problems are better understood, ideas are initiated, commitment to action are made and new thinking evolves.
How we create the spaces where we come together makes a difference. One (not the only) important aspect of creating safe and constructive spaces is being intentional about how we show up individually and together, so that we support ourselves and each other to do our best work. Being intentional helps us get into the best mindset, be clear on our goals and be fully present.
Below are just some of the questions I use to help create inclusive, creative and impactful spaces . Sometimes I take 30 seconds to pause and prepare because that's all I have or all it needs. At other times I spend longer. Every time I pause and prepare, it pays off. Every time I don't, I wish I had.
How do you pause and prepare before an interaction? Try these 7 questions:
What do I want from this interaction?
What do others want (and how do I know - are there any assumptions I need to check out?)
How do we need to be together to get what we need?
What’s the presence I need to bring?
What do I need to ask, to be aware of, and to be sensitive to?
What will help us begin well?
What will help us end well?
I’d love to hear from you! Get in touch here if you’d like to know more about how I can help you in working better together through being more intentional or to stay connected.