A central theme throughout all of my work is the importance of building connection before, during, and after the conference call. Connection is the doorway to productivity. Think back on the calls you found to most effective. One common thread among these calls will be the strong sense of connection between everyone on the call.
Connection occurs when the group is aligned with a specific purpose, goal, or outcome. Examples include a strong desire to meet a deadline, passion for a certain topic, and a collaborative environment where participants are free to speak their truth without insult. Connection cannot occur when one or more members of the group intentionally seek to divide or subvert the group.
Whereas connection is a group focus, being personal is an individual focus. The challenge for a leader who likes being personal (common for behavioral styles that are people-centric) is being able to shift the focus from one person at a time to the entire group. At the extreme, being personal will divide and/or subvert the group.
Conference calls exist for one purpose – to improve the productivity of the participants!
The next time you are leading a call, periodically check to see where your focus is and how it is impacting the productivity of the group. If you feel the need to be personal, take it offline so you can fully focus your attention on the individual.
How do you build connection on your calls? Please post it and share it with the Power Conference Calls Community.
Posted by Byron Van Arsdale, Founder
ConferenceCallTraining.com
