Why the need to engage groups …
We live in an age of information overload with information abundantly available, and what is sorely needed is to distil that potential knowledge resource. The best way of doing this is to tap the knowledge and wisdom that resides in peoples heads and to manage the information in such a way that it becomes good decision making material.
We also know that from various studies conducted that the knowledge of groups (within the same discipline) is in virtually every instance superior to the knowledge of an expert on the chosen subject.
As individuals we are becoming adept at deflecting messages beamed at us (as many as 30 000 per day) and only selecting those that have real interest for us. The same happens in meetings where participants are easily distracted and lose interest.
The upshot of this is that the ‘tell’ syndrome that exists and death by PowerPoint monologues are wasted energy where audiences are craving a more stimulating experience.
The best and easiest way of creating the right experience is to use techniques and tools that involve and encourage sharing amongst groups … in other words engage the group by making them part of the process.
Just a simple example … our experience is that rather than telling people what to do, paint a vision of the end result you want to achieve, and then ask the group how they can help realise the vision.
Two key elements that flow out of this approach are …
- You know what their thinking is on the subject (strengths and weaknesses) and can then plan around this knowledge.
- Because they have been instrumental in building the solution there is buy-in to making it happen.