Leadership Conversations that Live

You know the conversation.     The obligatory we-have-to-talk-about-the-(fill in the blank with whatever you choose. . . numbers, procedures, mission, professional review).  The conversation has the same thrill as watching moss grow.  You, and your team members, walk away from it with essentially the same reaction:   "Well, that was a complete waste of time."

The tragic part about all of this is that probably the content was pretty important - both to you and your team - and in the end, it was a missed opportunity.

So, how do you take content and create a conversation that lives?   Because, seriously, if you can take some of the business-basic stuff and make it applicable to your team member's work life - you've won more than half of the battle.

Connect the Dots.   Connect how the content is relevant to your team members - and this isn't just something that you do at the time of the meeting.   Throughout your daily interaction, talk about how the basics of your business are impacted by every member of the team.

Treat the Subject Matter with Importance.    I have been guilty of this:   "Well, we're supposed to talk about this so we may as well get it done."    As the leader, you set the tone.   If you treat it with importance - it will be important.   You don't need to be a cheerleader, but your own personal enthusiasm and conviction goes a long way toward making the content relevant to the individual.

Treat the Audience with Importance.    Your team makes it happen.    Reminding them, in positive terms, of their influence on business is one of the most important and realistic things you can do.  It is also important to integrate them in the conversation - give them time to speak and ask questions.

Timing.   Often these meetings are scheduled at a time least likely to conflict with anything else - which translated means they are at the least convenient times of the day.   Timing is everything:  pick a time when people are refreshed, when they can focus and aren't preoccupied.

Your Relationship Isn't Everything, It's Almost Everything.    This is why it is so important for a leader to be liked;   the daily relationship that you have with your team is the foundation for your leadership conversations.    A positive relationship reaps extra bonus points at the time you have conversations with content that's important to your team.     Again, if it's important to you - it's important to your team.

Brent Frerichs is the author of "Courageous Questions, Confident Leaders," available for IPads, e-readers and PCs on Amazon Kindle.