Speak!
The meeting last night was one of the better ones. I'd never been to a meeting chaired by this particular person. He didn't let there be more than 20 seconds of silence before prodding someone to share and it kept things moving! When I chair a discussion meeting, I use 30 seconds as a rule of thumb. Then I wait about 10 more seconds (and that's a loooooong 10 seconds) before saying something. Almost everytime, someone speaks in that last 10 seconds. Anywho, this fella had this meeting a-poppin' and it was so recharging. It's not unusual for there to be long silences where the folks who've shared are looking around the room and the folks who've not are looking at their feet. Too many of these really drags down the quality entertainment value of the meeting for me. I can still come away from the meeting having heard something of great value and feeling recharged. However, I invariably leave an active meeting with a smile and a renewal of spirit.
Some people don't like meetings to be chaired like this and I can see from their perspective. If they don't wanna talk, being called on to talk can make them feel very uncomfortable. Still, I think that talking (even if you don't share) in meetings is a big deal. Even if all that's said is, "I'm just going to listen tonight," the act of speaking to the group helps make one part of the group.
I don't speak in every meeting I attend; sometimes I just listen. However, if I'm not in the greatest of spaces, often the best thing I can do is to share in a meeting. One thing I must remain aware of, though, is sharing inauthentically. That is, speaking moreso to be heard rather than to help me or someone else. There have been times I've shared and it's not come from my experience, strength and hope. It's come from my ego. Fortunately, that doesn't happen as much as it used to. Awareness...
Some people don't like meetings to be chaired like this and I can see from their perspective. If they don't wanna talk, being called on to talk can make them feel very uncomfortable. Still, I think that talking (even if you don't share) in meetings is a big deal. Even if all that's said is, "I'm just going to listen tonight," the act of speaking to the group helps make one part of the group.
I don't speak in every meeting I attend; sometimes I just listen. However, if I'm not in the greatest of spaces, often the best thing I can do is to share in a meeting. One thing I must remain aware of, though, is sharing inauthentically. That is, speaking moreso to be heard rather than to help me or someone else. There have been times I've shared and it's not come from my experience, strength and hope. It's come from my ego. Fortunately, that doesn't happen as much as it used to. Awareness...
