by Dwayne Phillips When you say or hear a negative statement, add “up until now” to erase the negative. These magic words come from author and consultant Jerry Weinberg. They are great erasers. Here are some examples: I am not a good writer…up until now I stutter when I speak in front of people…up until […]
Entries Tagged as 'Meetings'
Three Magic Words that Erase a Negative
May 7th, 2012 · No Comments
Tags: Communication · Meetings
Contemplative Writing
March 1st, 2012 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips Contemplative writing is a valuable practice. It is far more valuable and far less used than shallow meetings. In my 28 years working for the government, I attended countless meetings where much of nothing was discussed. I avoided far more if these meetings than I attended. Meetings are a characteristic of government […]
Tags: Management · Meetings · Process · Thinking · Time · Writing
They’re Not Upset, They’re Just Thinking
November 21st, 2011 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips Take care when you have opposite types of people in the room for a meeting. Be sure to have someone in the room with the primary interest of ensuring communication among the groups. A few months ago, I sat in a meeting. On one side of the table were customers; on the […]
Tags: Communication · Meetings · People
The Free-Form Data Entry Template
September 15th, 2011 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips How to cross the barrier of the blank sheet of paper. I love a blank sheet of paper. I know a lot of people who don’t. I was in a meeting once where people were given blank sheets of paper and literally revolted. They wanted some type of template to focus their […]
Tags: Adapting · Meetings · People · Process
Change the World 0.01 – Three People in a Room
April 25th, 2011 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips This post begins a new series (of undetermined length) about changing the world. Sometimes, all it takes is three people in a crowded room who say, “let’s tell the truth.” The scene is a familiar one, especially if you work in government as people in government sit in more meetings than anyone […]
Tags: Change · Communication · Meetings
Be Prepared to be Unprepared
March 28th, 2011 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips I have learned that I am not capable of being prepared for everything. Hence, I have learned to be prepared for being unprepared. I often speak in front of people, lead discussions, teach classes, and generally attend meetings where people ask me questions. I am often unprepared for what people ask. I […]
Tags: Choose · Culture · Expectations · Learning · Meetings
The iPad – part 0.9 – A Week-Long Conference
March 21st, 2011 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips I attend a five-day conference with only an iPad and ZaggMate bluetooth keyboard. It worked! I recently attended a conference at work – eight hours a day for five days. WiFi was to be available. Hmm, eight hours, WiFi, I wasn’t sure about power connections, I decided to try my iPad with […]
Tags: iPad · Meetings · Technology
The Season is the Reason for the Meeting (not)
February 17th, 2011 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips Some meetings are driven only by the calendar. We meet monthly or weekly or whatever just because a page falls from the calendar on the wall. I’m going to a meeting tomorrow (or maybe its the day after?). The reason for the meeting? the calendar Yes, it is a meeting determined by […]
Tags: Management · Meetings
Get It Done (or not): Government vs Industry
January 13th, 2011 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips In my industry job, I see people making phone calls to obtain answers to questions right now. I never say that in 28 years of government. Here are some thoughts on the practice. I worked in government for 28 years. I have since worked in private industry for two years. A current […]
Tags: Communication · Culture · Government · Management · Meetings
Thinking vs Talking Postures
January 10th, 2011 · No Comments
by Dwayne Phillips People use one set of postures for thinking. There are another set of postures that make it easy for other people to hear what you are saying when you are talking. Please try to switch postures when thinking and then talking. This request is especially strong when in meeting with other people. […]
Tags: Communication · Meetings · People · Work