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The Power of Pre-Work
How many of you would like to ...
(Are you raising your hand?)
This magical tool does exist ... if you are a "Super Meetings" Graduate, you already know it ... here it is ... drumroll please ....
It’s called
PRE-WORK! - The Steps we take BEFORE the Meeting.
One of the most common reasons cynicism and resistance - and other dysfunctions - can show up on a team is incomplete Pre-Work.
When we hear from you about teams that have gone wild:
- Senior leadership is not supporting ideas from the team
- Participants are resistant, cynical, and apathetic about Process Improvement - even cynical about you and your role in the process.
We can often trace it back to incomplete Pre-Work.
Pre-Work is your most important investment of time and energy when launching a project or meeting.
Pre –work done well:
- Builds trust and rapport with the team.
- Allows you to uncover issues and behaviors from participants that might take your meeting off track giving you time to plan accordingly.
- Educates participants on the objective and process of the project, their role and your role, while decreasing confusion and misconceptions.
Pre-Work is a HABIT
and we have found that Humans have 2 kinds of habits:
The habit of things we do.
The habit of things we don’t do.
If your Pre-Work is not yet a habit of “things you do,” now is a great time to start! Here are a few ideas for creating your new habit of Pre-Work:
1) Use your Pre-Work Checklist. The Checklists in the Super Meetings Manual have been tested and proven by the Best-of-the-Best! You can download a copy here.
- Using the Checklist will save you TONS of TIME and ensures you haven’t missed any steps.
- Make copies for each event/meeting and USE THEM.
- You’ll feel more confident knowing you have been thorough in uncovering anything that could take your meeting off track BEFORE you even walk in to the session. Remember Prevention?!
- Doing the Pre Work begins building TRUST – you’ll notice how your team is more confident in you and in their ability to work together when you’ve begun to build rapport BEFORE the meeting even begins!
2. Create, Memorize and PRACTICE your Opening. This is an item on the Checklist however it is so important we include it as its own tip here. Book a meeting with yourself in your calendar so you prioritize time to do this.
3. Get a Buddy. Working with a buddy is half-the-work and twice-the-fun. The Buddy System works wonders for accountability, coaching and practice! Even if you are flying solo for the actual project or meeting, work together on your pre-work. The lessons learned and accountability structures are like a secret sauce for success poured over both of you, every time!
4. Write Down the Consequences.
What are the consequences of NOT doing your Pre-Work?
Consider all the downsides.
Remember back to a meeting where you didn’t do Pre-Work, what happened in the meeting that might have been prevented or minimized had you done the Pre –Work? Writing it down will boost your motivation to add the habit of Pre-Work to your toolbox.
Consistently performing the tasks of Pre-Work is an excellent way to
build your FACILITATOR MUSCLES! We guarantee exercising this new habit will pay off in HUGE dividends during, after and between meetings.
Check it out for yourself:
How are you doing your PRE-WORK?
Look in the mirror.
Be rigorous with yourself as you answer these questions:
If you are doing your Pre-Work at 100%
ROCK ON!
Let us know how it’s working for you!
If you’d give yourself anything less than 100%, no worries:
“The best time to plant a tree
is twenty years ago.
The second best time is today.”
~Chinese proverb
You can do this!
Look in the mirror.
Give yourself a High-Five and say,
“Do your Pre-Work!”
For your Success,
 .JPG) Peg and Shelley,
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