A Sense of Connection

Gail Davis & Associates, Inc.

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A Sense of Connection
By Gail Davis | Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Humankind is funny. We like to feel connected. Connected to a cause. Connected to a family. That connection creates a sense of purpose. I have been thinking about that a lot lately. I have been thinking about that as it relates to the speaking industry.

Why do companies have meetings? To acknowledge employees, to set strategic direction, to wow clients, to motive and inspire performance. Meetings are an investment and they take time. But if the meeting creates a connection then often it has met the goal. We have so many opportunities to connect on the phone, via conference calls, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn but still face to face meetings are the most effective way of creating real connections. Why? I believe it is twofold. One aspect is the formal agenda and the other is the unplanned, unorchestrated bonds that are connected by virtue of having folks at the same place.

When I ran the Sales Incentive Trip at EDS, I constantly looked for ways to put the top executive team in funny situations. Why? It created a culture. It created exciting and memorable moments. Those who qualified and attended the events remembered the President doing the Macarena or numerous other skits that allowed the sales force to see leadership in a lighter role.

Recently I attended two funerals. One in my community and the other via the television for Senator Ted Kennedy. Again, I was struck by this need we have to come together. There is something about seeing the staffers gather on the Capitol steps that makes you aware of the need we all have to belong. At funerals and wakes there are often several different individuals who speak. Some use humor, some speak with passion. Those who speak have various styles with different presentations but often the same purpose.

When a company says they aren’t having a meeting. I worry. What happens to that human desire to belong? When companies say they don’t want a speaker. I worry. What happens to the message of the meeting? Tried and true, long before Facebook and Twitter, the spoken word was the rallying cry to gather the troops. Speakers have an incredible responsibility. Companies like ours also have a huge duty to make sure we know why our clients are having a meeting. We must understand the purpose and goal. We must carefully match the talents of the speaker to the desired outcome. And when we do…we set the stage for magic.

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