Team Talk is cool

There is Small Talk and there is Team Talk. Here comes a 'what is what' explanation?: 

When we meet with family and friends at the dining table, a conversation ensues where the host or the elder takes the lead, which sometimes shuts down the entire dinner party. Once in a while, the unique thing happens that everyone around the table speaks the same amount. Then there is both laughter and answers in the air. It all happens randomly and without control. It is usually problem-free. It is small talk about small and large topics. It's close to cozy.

I have tried to be at a birthday party, where my waitress told me about her exciting job as a secretary for the well-known danish TV producer and master of our childhood Ingvald Lieberkind. And I have tried having a potato grower at the table. And there I listened to new and old stories about both potato species and cooking methods.

But these must be described as small talk. Small Talk with content. Because there is also Small Talk without content. Huh hey how it's raining. Do you know the one about the tattoo artist who ... ? How are you old man? Do you ever meet any from the old crew? We must do lunch some day.

And then there are the conversations on the job, which are usually managed by a manager.

Team Talk: Two ingredients

There are two ingredients in Team Talk. The first ingredient is the topic of the conversation, which is given - and it is given by the leader. It has long been written on the agenda, so that everyone knows that this is what will be the subject of the weekly meeting, e.g. budget, new product, the newsletter.

The second ingredient is the way we should talk about the subject. This ingredient is most often forgotten by the manager. Therefore, the conversation becomes a Small Team Talk. A gossip for a gossip. Unstructured. Unsystematic. Useless. Yes, almost boring. It is also the reason why most people fall asleep or think about something else.

When the manager adds a way, a method, a tool - then the conversations become orderly, defined and manageable in time. Everyone knows when a structured conversation begins and when it ends. At the same time, you make more people talk in less time. It is far more inspiring and appetizing. A little bit of tension, a little uneasiness, a little uncertainty, a little involvement is also added when the leader suddenly presents something new and says, for example:

I would really like to hear your views on this topic. I would like to start with Bente. In just a little while you will have 2 minutes to tell the rest of us what you think about the topic. But first I would like to ask you to discuss the topic with the person next to you for 2 minutes, so that you can form a good insight first. Here you go.

Or: For this topic, I would like to ask you to get up and come out here on the floor, where I have laid out some picture cards. Now give yourself plenty of time to each choose 1 picture that according to you, illustrates the subject. Get ready with the picture and wait for a message. Yes please. Now go 3 and 3 together, find the other 2 with the same type of shoes as you are wearing. Yes please. And now explain to each other why you found that particular picture and what it illustrates.

Or: I have now hung 3 flips in each corner of the room. On one it says MORE. On the other it says LESS. On the third it says THE SAME. I would like to ask for your comments and assessments of the subject we have now discussed. Therefore, go to the board that you think will be the right 'comment'. You all get something to write with so you can note down your cues and explanations. Decide which flip you choose before you stand up. Here you go.

Find more methods and tools for all your Team Talks on LEADERS WAREHOUSE HERE.

Michael Meinhardt
LEADERSwarehouse.com 

☎ +45 71 92 55 63 ✉ info@LEADERSwarehouse.com