In a friendly video shot on his farm, the former tech journalist and searcher Jess Hirsh gives precious tips to managers who wish to raise their employee’s attention during virtual meetings.
His suggestion is easy and complicated at the same time : consider meetings, not as simple meetings, but as entertaining productions. Some explanations.
Jesse Hirsh is a former technological analyst for the BBC. He is now an independent searcher, interested in the impacts digital technologies have on the society.
In a recent video, published on his YouTube account, he brilliantly explains how a manager can raise their employees’ engagement by changing how they see these meetings.
« As a former mediatic figure, I recognise that everytime you’re on a camera, it’s a performance, it’s a show. that being in front of a camera is always a show, a performance. Instead of seeing your virtual meetings as if they are meetings, what if they are entertainment? What if they are a show in the same way that a play, or a radio drama or a tv show has a script, has characters, has direction and rehearsal and stage craft? It reflects that you can never take someone’s attention for granted. »
Jesse Hirsh believes managers looking for better technological tools to improve their meetings are wrong. According to him, communication is more about culture and « performance » (as in the theatrical way).
« As a performer, you have got the responsibility to respect that attention, and make sure that your audience is engaged. Make sure that they get the things that they want to keep them interested », he adds.
Meetings should never be « dull » or « annoying », he insists. In fact, they should create « excitement », be high points during an employee’s day.
Treats for your teams
Planning more entertaining meetings is a nice idea. But how? Jesse Hirsh gives some advice on how to achieve this goal.
The first piece of advice is to plan, to prepare content (like « treats » in your pocket, as Jesse Hirsh explains in his video) for « whoever might show up. »
« You always get that person who really needs attention and who really needs to say what they need to say. So it’s good to have a script for them, it’s good to anticipate. »
Broadly speaking, the expert recalls some basic communication techniques, like an healthy mix of knowledge and emotions.
Managers can either give out strategic information, or flatter a colleague’s ego, depending on the circumstances.
« You need to have their attention. You need to find ways in which you can have a sort of « treats » in your pocket, that ensure that their attention is there, but also so that when they start making noise, you’re able to give them a little bit of content, or knowledge, a little bit of love, so that they are able to participate and engage in the way that you feel is necessary. »
Jesse Hirsh’s idea is not for managers to put even more pressure on themselves, now that they have to « perform » during meetings, but to properly plan them. To write future exchanges, in some way.
« What’s the story of your meeting? What’s the narrative arc that you’ve produced for your event? These are things people in show-business thing about all the time. We shouldn’t take for granted that to keep and hold someone’s attention requires a diverse offering. »
And when we don’t have anything else to say, or when you don’t have any more treats in your pockets, he concludes, maybe that’s a good time to end.
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