Working Up

by Dwayne Phillips

Ever notice how some people speak software during meetings? Are they afraid? Where is their confidence?

I don’t hear well. Too many years in noisy equipment rooms with fans blowing too loud. Hence, I concentrate on what people say and the volume they use when saying it.

I’ve noticed that many people speak at one volume when having “normal” chit chat conversations. Then a meeting starts. The volume drops instead of rises. It should rise as there are many people scattered about a large room and the need to address everyone is important. Yet the volume drops.

Confidence has fled. Fear has arrived. What happened?

Some of us are hams (an old adjective meaning we love the spotlight and can’t wait to show off). Most of us aren’t. When fear arrives, volume drops.

Why are some people afraid in some meetings? What have we as managers done to allow fear to rule our people? We need to find the problem and fix it. We can do better.