Welcome! Let's look at why taking action creates awesome meetings starting now!On a scale from 1-10 would you rate your meetings as -5? Do you know that you need to do something about this but you just can’t seem to get the ball rolling?Would you like to learn how to get inspired and take action to make your next meeting amazing?Well then, today’s episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is perfect for you because in this episode you’ll learn: 	How to figure out what will motivate you to actually change your meetings 	How to get inspired by your favorite larger-than-life people from around the world 	How to get inspired by getting to really know the people on your meeting team 	How to be a great role model during meetings 	Why failing faster is a great way to take action 	How to create a series of small wins that will eventually add up to a large victory 	How to use the 10-step meeting productivity improvement system from the book ‘How To Create Awesome Meetings 	Why ‘paying it forward’ not only pays off for you and your organization but, also for your community 	How taking action and improving your meetings can be very profitableQuotes:"Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment own it."~ Oprah Winfrey~"Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."~Lao Tzu~Link:www.terryfox.orgAnd if you'd like even more great meeting productivity improvement tips and inspriation then check out the Meeting Leadership Podcast!Enter Your Name And Email below to get the FREE Checklist √ PDF download!

Welcome! Let's look at why taking action creates awesome meetings starting now! On a scale from 1-10 would you rate your meetings as -5? Do you know that you need to do something about this but you just can’t seem to get the ball rolling? Would you like to learn how to get inspired and take action to make your next meeting amazing? Well then, today’s episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is perfect for you because in this episode you’ll learn: 	How to figure out what will motivate you to actually change your meetings 	How to get inspired by your favorite larger-than-life people from around the world 	How to get inspired by getting to really know the people on your meeting team 	How to be a great role model during meetings 	Why failing faster is a great way to take action 	How to create a series of small wins that will eventually add up to a large victory 	How to use the 10-step meeting productivity improvement system from the book ‘How To Create Awesome Meetings 	Why ‘paying it forward’ not only pays off for you and your organization but, also for your community 	How taking action and improving your meetings can be very profitable Quotes: "Do the one thing you think you cannot do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment own it." ~ Oprah Winfrey~ "Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step."~Lao Tzu~ Link: <a href="http://www.terryfox.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.terryfox.org</a> And if you'd like even more great meeting productivity improvement tips and inspriation then check out the Meeting Leadership Podcast! Enter Your Name And Email below to get the FREE Checklist √ PDF download!

CAM 023: Why Taking Action Creates Awesome Meetings

Are your meetings a disaster? As in… the facilitator is incompetent and the participants are running the zoo?Would you like to learn a fast way to turn your meetings from bad into awesome?Well, then today’s episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is perfect for you because it is all about helping you learn how to hire a Professional Meeting Facilitator. In this episode you’ll learn:Why hiring a Professional Meeting Facilitator is a great investment 	How to ask the right kinds of questions that will help you hire a great Professional Meeting Facilitator 	What you should expect when you hire a Professional Meeting Facilitator 	Why it is so important to bring in an objective outsider who can help you sort through and prioritize you key issues 	How a Professional Meeting Facilitator can help you connect your meeting directly to your organization strategyA professional meeting facilitator is someone who has the right experience, credentials, and confidence to help you have an awesome meeting. They are objective - won’t put up with your current crap - and they will give you all the options you need to make your meetings successful.And if all of your meetings were successful, can you imagine what type of impact that would have on your bottom line?Quotes:“There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.”~Colin Powell~“Happiness does not come from doing easy work but from the afterglow of satisfaction that comes after the achievement of a difficult task that demanded our best.”~Theodore Isaac Rubin~And if you'd like even more great meeting productivity improvement tips and inspriation then check out the Meeting Leadership Podcast!Send an email with CAM 022 in the subject line to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

Are your meetings a disaster? As in… the facilitator is incompetent and the participants are running the zoo? Would you like to learn a fast way to turn your meetings from bad into awesome? Well, then today’s episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is perfect for you because it is all about helping you learn how to hire a Professional Meeting Facilitator. In this episode you’ll learn: Why hiring a Professional Meeting Facilitator is a great investment 	How to ask the right kinds of questions that will help you hire a great Professional Meeting Facilitator 	What you should expect when you hire a Professional Meeting Facilitator 	Why it is so important to bring in an objective outsider who can help you sort through and prioritize you key issues 	How a Professional Meeting Facilitator can help you connect your meeting directly to your organization strategy A professional meeting facilitator is someone who has the right experience, credentials, and confidence to help you have an awesome meeting. They are objective - won’t put up with your current crap - and they will give you all the options you need to make your meetings successful. And if all of your meetings were successful, can you imagine what type of impact that would have on your bottom line? Quotes: “There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.” ~Colin Powell~ “Happiness does not come from doing easy work but from the afterglow of satisfaction that comes after the achievement of a difficult task that demanded our best.” ~Theodore Isaac Rubin~ And if you'd like even more great meeting productivity improvement tips and inspriation then check out the Meeting Leadership Podcast! Send an email with CAM 022 in the subject line to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

CAM 022: How To Hire A Professional Meeting Facilitator

When you’re in a meeting, how do you act? Do you check your phone, cross your arms and fall asleep?Or do you come prepared, keep your energy up and inspire everyone else in the room?Do you want to learn how to become the best that you can be during a meeting?Well, then today’s episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is perfect for you, because it is all about helping you learn how to take responsibility for yourself. In this episode you’ll discover how to: 	Ask yourself the right kinds of questions that will enable you to choose how you act during a meeting 	Find a variety of tools to become more self-aware 	Seek out a mentor who will help you grow personally and professionally 	Demonstrate that by taking control of yourself during meetings, you actually make your organization stronger and moreQuotes:“Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”~Viktor Frankl~  Neurologist and Psychiatrist“If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”~Isaac Newton~ Physicist and MathematicianLink:Million Women MentorsAnd if you'd like even more great meeting productivity improvement tips and inspriation then check out the Meeting Leadership Podcast!Send an email with CAM 021 in the subject line to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

When you’re in a meeting, how do you act? Do you check your phone, cross your arms and fall asleep? Or do you come prepared, keep your energy up and inspire everyone else in the room? Do you want to learn how to become the best that you can be during a meeting? Well, then today’s episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is perfect for you, because it is all about helping you learn how to take responsibility for yourself. In this episode you’ll discover how to: 	Ask yourself the right kinds of questions that will enable you to choose how you act during a meeting 	Find a variety of tools to become more self-aware 	Seek out a mentor who will help you grow personally and professionally 	Demonstrate that by taking control of yourself during meetings, you actually make your organization stronger and more Quotes: “Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” ~Viktor Frankl~  Neurologist and Psychiatrist “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” ~Isaac Newton~ Physicist and Mathematician Link: Million Women Mentors And if you'd like even more great meeting productivity improvement tips and inspriation then check out the Meeting Leadership Podcast! Send an email with CAM 021 in the subject line to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

CAM 021: Why Great Meetings Start With You

Do you and your colleagues follow up after each meeting? If the answer is yes, congratulations. But if the answer is ‘sort of’, ‘not really’ or ‘no’, then you may be leaving money on the floor.Consistent meeting follow-up is rare, but if you learn how to follow up effectively you can literally improve the bottom line for any organization you work or volunteer for.So, to help you improve your odds when it comes to following up consistently after your meetings, today’s episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is dedicated to giving you all of the tips and inspiration you'll need, including how to: 	Use the word FAST itself as a handy acronym to help you be more consistent when it comes to following up 	Figure out why it’s worth following up by making a list of your ‘top five reasons to follow up’ 	Ask your staff about how they want to give and receive feedback 	Astonish each other by following up quickly and efficiently 	Make a checklist so you can standardize your follow up process 	Assign someone other than the meeting leader to gather data during meetings, and make sure they track the key points in a fluid data system 	Figure out the right level of money and resources you should invest to effectively follow up after a meetingHow To Use The Word F-A-S-T: 	F - Feedback Loop 	A - Astonish Each Other 	S - Standardize The Follow Up Process 	T - Track ProgressSend an email with CAM 020 in the subject line to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!Quote:“Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”Benjamin Franklin, A Founding Father of the United States

Do you and your colleagues follow up after each meeting? If the answer is yes, congratulations. But if the answer is ‘sort of’, ‘not really’ or ‘no’, then you may be leaving money on the floor. Consistent meeting follow-up is rare, but if you learn how to follow up effectively you can literally improve the bottom line for any organization you work or volunteer for. So, to help you improve your odds when it comes to following up consistently after your meetings, today’s episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is dedicated to giving you all of the tips and inspiration you'll need, including how to: 	Use the word FAST itself as a handy acronym to help you be more consistent when it comes to following up 	Figure out why it’s worth following up by making a list of your ‘top five reasons to follow up’ 	Ask your staff about how they want to give and receive feedback 	Astonish each other by following up quickly and efficiently 	Make a checklist so you can standardize your follow up process 	Assign someone other than the meeting leader to gather data during meetings, and make sure they track the key points in a fluid data system 	Figure out the right level of money and resources you should invest to effectively follow up after a meeting How To Use The Word F-A-S-T: 	F - Feedback Loop 	A - Astonish Each Other 	S - Standardize The Follow Up Process 	T - Track Progress Send an email with CAM 020 in the subject line to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download! Quote: “Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.” Benjamin Franklin, A Founding Father of the United States

CAM 020: How Following Up FAST Creates Awesome Meetings

Do your colleagues actually listen to what you’re saying during a meeting? Or do they pay more attention to their phones?Would you and your team like to learn how to listen more effectively so you can have awesome meetings?If the answer is yes, then this episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is for you. In this episode you’ll learn how to:Get interested - because ‘the most interesting people are those who are the most interested’ 	Repeat what you’ve heard so that whoever was talking feels acknowledged 	Say the person's name when you respond, because we all love the sound of our own name 	Remember what you appreciate about who’s talking, and if there isn’t much then make something up 	Talk less 	Make eye contact 	Turn off your phone 	Allow people to finish what they are saying 	Pick the right time to say your answer instead of just blurting it out before someone finishes speaking 	Relax and be presentSend an email with CAM 019 in the subject line to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!Quote:“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.”Greek Philosopher Epictetus

Do your colleagues actually listen to what you’re saying during a meeting? Or do they pay more attention to their phones? Would you and your team like to learn how to listen more effectively so you can have awesome meetings? If the answer is yes, then this episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is for you. In this episode you’ll learn how to: Get interested - because ‘the most interesting people are those who are the most interested’ 	Repeat what you’ve heard so that whoever was talking feels acknowledged 	Say the person's name when you respond, because we all love the sound of our own name 	Remember what you appreciate about who’s talking, and if there isn’t much then make something up 	Talk less 	Make eye contact 	Turn off your phone 	Allow people to finish what they are saying 	Pick the right time to say your answer instead of just blurting it out before someone finishes speaking 	Relax and be present Send an email with CAM 019 in the subject line to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download! Quote: “We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” Greek Philosopher Epictetus

CAM 019: How Effective Listening Creates Awesome Meetings

Have you ever been in a fight during a meeting? Have you ever watched your colleagues yell at each other during a meeting?Would you like to learn how to fight so you can really get along?If so, then this episode of the Create Awesome Meetings podcast will be perfect for you and your team. In this episode you’ll learn how to:Save time and money by learning how to disagree more efficiently 	Become aware of your negative behaviour during a meeting 	Create a ‘fight-style’ inventory, as in, who is shy, too aggressive etc. 	Understand why it is worth disagreeing 	Never let a bad idea out of the room because of a fight 	Never put up with the status quo 	Establish your own unique set of meeting fight ground rules 	Make disagreements about the issue and not about the person 	Stop the discussion if it becomes too personal or if voices are raised 	Ensure that once a decision is made, then everyone supports it 	Bring in a professional Professional Meeting Facilitator or Meeting Mentor if necessaryBecause no matter what type of meeting you’re in, learning how to fight effectively will definitely make it more productive. Send an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

Have you ever been in a fight during a meeting? Have you ever watched your colleagues yell at each other during a meeting? Would you like to learn how to fight so you can really get along? If so, then this episode of the Create Awesome Meetings podcast will be perfect for you and your team. In this episode you’ll learn how to: Save time and money by learning how to disagree more efficiently 	Become aware of your negative behaviour during a meeting 	Create a ‘fight-style’ inventory, as in, who is shy, too aggressive etc. 	Understand why it is worth disagreeing 	Never let a bad idea out of the room because of a fight 	Never put up with the status quo 	Establish your own unique set of meeting fight ground rules 	Make disagreements about the issue and not about the person 	Stop the discussion if it becomes too personal or if voices are raised 	Ensure that once a decision is made, then everyone supports it 	Bring in a professional Professional Meeting Facilitator or Meeting Mentor if necessary Because no matter what type of meeting you’re in, learning how to fight effectively will definitely make it more productive. Send an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

CAM 018: Learn How To Fight So You Can Get Along During A Meeting

Are you in a job where you have meetings that are not in rooms? Like on a construction site or at a Nursing station?Do you ever have to meet off-site, away from the office in places like hotels or convention centres?Would you like some practical tips and inspiration that will help you turn these unique spaces into meeting productivity opportunities? Well, you’re in the right place because episode 17 of the Create Awesome Meetings is all about optimizing meetings that are not in traditional rooms.And please keep in mind that this is 'Part 2' of a two-part series about meeting spaces. If you have not had a chance to listen to Part 1 you can simply check it out here.Where You Meet MattersNow ‘I believe that where you meet is as important as what you’re meeting about - and with that in mind here is a four-step framework that you can apply to any space that you meet in.The Four Step Framework To Help You Create An Awesome Meeting Space:Step 1: Ask practical questions like...On a Construction Site or out in the Wilderness: What time of day are we going to be meeting? 	In an Open Area: What type of information are you talking about? Is it confidential? 	In-Town, Off-Site: What is the reputation of the destination staff?Step 2: Ask people questions like...On a Construction Site or out in the Wilderness: Is there a trained meeting facilitator in the group? 	In an Open Area: Are there any patients or family members nearby? 	In-Town, Off-Site: Will an off-site meeting be a motivator for our staff?Step 3: Ask spatial questions like...On a Construction Site or out in the Wilderness: Is it too noisy to be heard properly? 	In an Open Area: Do you have to keep your voice down? 	In-Town, Off-Site: Do they have the right capacity and styles of rooms for your type of meetings?Step 4: Ask inspiring questions about the meeting room like...On a Construction Site or out in the Wilderness: Can you take a moment to acknowledge the outdoor setting and be inspired by it? 	In an Open Area: How can you connect this meeting to your organization strategy? 	In-Town, Off-Site: Can we book an awesome guest speaker?And if you want even more detailed answers then it is definitely worth listening to the podcast!Send an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

Are you in a job where you have meetings that are not in rooms? Like on a construction site or at a Nursing station? Do you ever have to meet off-site, away from the office in places like hotels or convention centres? Would you like some practical tips and inspiration that will help you turn these unique spaces into meeting productivity opportunities? Well, you’re in the right place because episode 17 of the Create Awesome Meetings is all about optimizing meetings that are not in traditional rooms. And please keep in mind that this is 'Part 2' of a two-part series about meeting spaces. If you have not had a chance to listen to Part 1 you can simply check it out here. Where You Meet Matters Now ‘I believe that where you meet is as important as what you’re meeting about - and with that in mind here is a four-step framework that you can apply to any space that you meet in. The Four Step Framework To Help You Create An Awesome Meeting Space: Step 1: Ask practical questions like... On a Construction Site or out in the Wilderness: What time of day are we going to be meeting? 	In an Open Area: What type of information are you talking about? Is it confidential? 	In-Town, Off-Site: What is the reputation of the destination staff? Step 2: Ask people questions like... On a Construction Site or out in the Wilderness: Is there a trained meeting facilitator in the group? 	In an Open Area: Are there any patients or family members nearby? 	In-Town, Off-Site: Will an off-site meeting be a motivator for our staff? Step 3: Ask spatial questions like... On a Construction Site or out in the Wilderness: Is it too noisy to be heard properly? 	In an Open Area: Do you have to keep your voice down? 	In-Town, Off-Site: Do they have the right capacity and styles of rooms for your type of meetings? Step 4: Ask inspiring questions about the meeting room like... On a Construction Site or out in the Wilderness: Can you take a moment to acknowledge the outdoor setting and be inspired by it? 	In an Open Area: How can you connect this meeting to your organization strategy? 	In-Town, Off-Site: Can we book an awesome guest speaker? And if you want even more detailed answers then it is definitely worth listening to the podcast! Send an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

CAM 017: How To Create An Awesome Meeting Space – Part 2

What does your meeting space look like? Are the tables sticky? Are there broken chairs and old papers lying around? Does your meeting room make you want to run away screaming?I believe that where you meet is as important as what you’re meeting about.So in today's episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast, we’re talking about where you and your team meet on a regular basis. And please keep in mind that this is 'Part 1' of a two-part series about meeting spaces. 'Part 1' deals with helping you improve spaces like your board room or staff room. In 'Part 2' you'll learn how to optimize the places that you meet that are not in rooms, as in, on a construction site or at a nursing station etc. And ultimately, after listening to these two episodes, along with the free downloads, then you'll be able to turn where you meet into a productivity improvement opportunity!And to help you break down all of the detail that goes into creating an awesome meeting space, I have created a 4-step framework.The Four Step Framework To Help You Create An Awesome Meeting Space:Step 1: Ask practical questions like... 	Do we need to book the room? 	Does the room have a projector, screen, sound system, and connections for computers? 	Who do we call if something goes wrong?Step 2: Ask people questions like... 	How many people are coming? 	Are people getting along and who should sit beside who?Step 3: Ask spatial questions like... 	Can we all hear each other and see each other in this room? 	What style of meeting are we having (ie. lecture, group work) and what shape should the room be in?Step 4: Ask Inspiring Questions About The Meeting Room... 	Should we post our strategic Vision, Mission and Objectives? 	Does this space support the unique culture of our organization?Creating an inspiring meeting space can make your meetings more productive, which will ultimately help your organization to be more profitable!Send an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

What does your meeting space look like? Are the tables sticky? Are there broken chairs and old papers lying around? Does your meeting room make you want to run away screaming? I believe that where you meet is as important as what you’re meeting about. So in today's episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast, we’re talking about where you and your team meet on a regular basis. And please keep in mind that this is 'Part 1' of a two-part series about meeting spaces. 'Part 1' deals with helping you improve spaces like your board room or staff room. In 'Part 2' you'll learn how to optimize the places that you meet that are not in rooms, as in, on a construction site or at a nursing station etc. And ultimately, after listening to these two episodes, along with the free downloads, then you'll be able to turn where you meet into a productivity improvement opportunity! And to help you break down all of the detail that goes into creating an awesome meeting space, I have created a 4-step framework. The Four Step Framework To Help You Create An Awesome Meeting Space: Step 1: Ask practical questions like... 	Do we need to book the room? 	Does the room have a projector, screen, sound system, and connections for computers? 	Who do we call if something goes wrong? Step 2: Ask people questions like... 	How many people are coming? 	Are people getting along and who should sit beside who? Step 3: Ask spatial questions like... 	Can we all hear each other and see each other in this room? 	What style of meeting are we having (ie. lecture, group work) and what shape should the room be in? Step 4: Ask Inspiring Questions About The Meeting Room... 	Should we post our strategic Vision, Mission and Objectives? 	Does this space support the unique culture of our organization? Creating an inspiring meeting space can make your meetings more productive, which will ultimately help your organization to be more profitable! Send an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

CAM 016: How To Create An Awesome Meeting Space – Part 1

Have you ever had a moment where the printer won’t work? Or that guy in HR opened another email he wasn’t supposed to and the whole network got infected? Would you like to know the right way to having a meeting with your IT guy when something like this happens and you want to get it fixed fast? Then this episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is for you!.That's because you're going to hear a fantastic interview with Ben Habing, an IT expert with over 20 years of experience in all levels of IT from dealing with small business to servicing multi-million-dollar contracts for large companies. In this episode Ben shares a ton of great IT meeting insights including: 	Being relentless about defining the business problem itself, and THEN choosing an IT solution to meet the need 	Making sure that you have left no question unanswered so that there can be no surprises when it comes to implementation 	Preventing any language barriers between the business owner and the IT technician to ensure that everyone understands each other 	Making sure the client understands what happens if their system goes down (from fire, flood, failed hardrive etc.) and what steps will be taken if it does 	How to empathize with each other because everybody has a job to do 	Why being open and honest is the best way to do business during an IT meeting 	How to prevent over-spending by establishing clear project requirements 	How to establish a clear Return-On-Investment from your IT spend, as in, do you want to earn $, reduce costs, or both? 	Why establishing the right back-up process is so important 	How to set up high expectations within the IT agreement itself 	How to not get bamboozled by the latest IT fad and ensure that you only implement what you need 	‘When in doubt, do without’ 	Why IT is not magic, it's just engineering 	Why IT should be treated like a marriage (because often you'll be spending more time with your IT guy than your spouse anyway) 	Why it is critical to have the right people in an IT meeting and to follow a clear meeting agendaBen's Top 3 IT Meetings Suggestions 	Be clear about the business problem you are trying to solve, and THEN figure out the appropriate IT solution 	Be calm during a meeting with your IT provider and remember that everyone has a job to do 	Clearly understand what Return-On-Investment you want from your IT solution, and don't overspend on bells and whistles that you don't needAbout Ben HabingBen has been wielding a keyboard since he was nine. He has spent almost 20 years working in IT, holding various roles from Systems Administrator, Senior Systems Engineer, Infrastructure Architect, IT Manager, Technical Process Manager, Director of Strategy &amp; Business Development to most recently CEO.He has led several technical support teams, implemented numerous enterprise applications, server and infrastructure systems all with a focus on delivering value to the business Ben is a veteran of the dot-com bust and after climbing the inner sanctums of IT; he made the jump over to quality and governance, and finally into leadership.This has given Ben, one of the unique perspectives of being able to talk the tech-talk and understand the need for adoption of service quality and business fundamentals in the sometimes-unhallowed walls of IT.Ben, consults full-time now with his company, Vivify Technology Inc. helping companies enliven their technology to enable them to run their business more effectively anywhere. You can get in touch with Ben at ben.habing@vivifytech.com.Links Mentioned In This Episodewww.vivifytech.comSend an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

Have you ever had a moment where the printer won’t work? Or that guy in HR opened another email he wasn’t supposed to and the whole network got infected? Would you like to know the right way to having a meeting with your IT guy when something like this happens and you want to get it fixed fast? Then this episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is for you!. That's because you're going to hear a fantastic interview with Ben Habing, an IT expert with over 20 years of experience in all levels of IT from dealing with small business to servicing multi-million-dollar contracts for large companies. In this episode Ben shares a ton of great IT meeting insights including: 	Being relentless about defining the business problem itself, and THEN choosing an IT solution to meet the need 	Making sure that you have left no question unanswered so that there can be no surprises when it comes to implementation 	Preventing any language barriers between the business owner and the IT technician to ensure that everyone understands each other 	Making sure the client understands what happens if their system goes down (from fire, flood, failed hardrive etc.) and what steps will be taken if it does 	How to empathize with each other because everybody has a job to do 	Why being open and honest is the best way to do business during an IT meeting 	How to prevent over-spending by establishing clear project requirements 	How to establish a clear Return-On-Investment from your IT spend, as in, do you want to earn $, reduce costs, or both? 	Why establishing the right back-up process is so important 	How to set up high expectations within the IT agreement itself 	How to not get bamboozled by the latest IT fad and ensure that you only implement what you need 	‘When in doubt, do without’ 	Why IT is not magic, it's just engineering 	Why IT should be treated like a marriage (because often you'll be spending more time with your IT guy than your spouse anyway) 	Why it is critical to have the right people in an IT meeting and to follow a clear meeting agenda Ben's Top 3 IT Meetings Suggestions 	Be clear about the business problem you are trying to solve, and THEN figure out the appropriate IT solution 	Be calm during a meeting with your IT provider and remember that everyone has a job to do 	Clearly understand what Return-On-Investment you want from your IT solution, and don't overspend on bells and whistles that you don't need About Ben Habing Ben has been wielding a keyboard since he was nine. He has spent almost 20 years working in IT, holding various roles from Systems Administrator, Senior Systems Engineer, Infrastructure Architect, IT Manager, Technical Process Manager, Director of Strategy &amp; Business Development to most recently CEO. He has led several technical support teams, implemented numerous enterprise applications, server and infrastructure systems all with a focus on delivering value to the business Ben is a veteran of the dot-com bust and after climbing the inner sanctums of IT; he made the jump over to quality and governance, and finally into leadership. This has given Ben, one of the unique perspectives of being able to talk the tech-talk and understand the need for adoption of service quality and business fundamentals in the sometimes-unhallowed walls of IT. Ben, consults full-time now with his company, Vivify Technology Inc. helping companies enliven their technology to enable them to run their business more effectively anywhere. You can get in touch with Ben at ben.habing@vivifytech.com. Links Mentioned In This Episode <a href="http://www.vivifytech.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.vivifytech.com</a> Send an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

CAM 015: How To Create Awesome IT Meetings

How are your meetings going? Bad? Good? Or in the worst case scenario maybe your meetings are just OK. Like you know they could be better, but instead you're choosing to just go with the flow.What if you could find a low-cost solution to help you turn your meetings from bad to awesome! Well if you'd like this to happen then today's episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast will be perfect for you and your whole meeting team.Because today you'll learn how to successfully work with a Meeting Mentor. This is someone within your organization who loves running meetings AND they are good at it AND they want to help you improve your overall meeting effectiveness. Some of the great concepts you'll gain from listening include: 	How to find a Meeting Mentor 	A simple three-step process for working with a Meeting Mentor that will help you get fast results 	How to build a Meeting Mentorship Culture 	The advantage of working with an internal person vs. an external person 	How working with a Meeting Mentor will help you improve overall productivity and profitabilityThe Five Steps To Help You Build A Meeting Mentorship Culture 	Acknowledge that you need a Meeting Mentor 	Find a Meeting Mentor 	Work with a Meeting Mentor 	Review what happened with your meeting team 	Build a Meeting Mentorship CultureSend an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

How are your meetings going? Bad? Good? Or in the worst case scenario maybe your meetings are just OK. Like you know they could be better, but instead you're choosing to just go with the flow. What if you could find a low-cost solution to help you turn your meetings from bad to awesome! Well if you'd like this to happen then today's episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast will be perfect for you and your whole meeting team. Because today you'll learn how to successfully work with a Meeting Mentor. This is someone within your organization who loves running meetings AND they are good at it AND they want to help you improve your overall meeting effectiveness. Some of the great concepts you'll gain from listening include: 	How to find a Meeting Mentor 	A simple three-step process for working with a Meeting Mentor that will help you get fast results 	How to build a Meeting Mentorship Culture 	The advantage of working with an internal person vs. an external person 	How working with a Meeting Mentor will help you improve overall productivity and profitability The Five Steps To Help You Build A Meeting Mentorship Culture 	Acknowledge that you need a Meeting Mentor 	Find a Meeting Mentor 	Work with a Meeting Mentor 	Review what happened with your meeting team 	Build a Meeting Mentorship Culture Send an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

CAM 014: How A Meeting Mentor Can Make Your Meetings Awesome

Make your next meeting more productive and profitable!

Create Awesome Meetings Podcast: Business Communication Skills | Effective Meetings | Organizational Learning | Management

If you had to change your the way you meet with your team right now, would you be resistant? Would your team be resistant?Change can be tough enough for one person and even more difficult for an entire team. Thankfully, today's expert is Shairose Lalani, a Change Management Professional who shares some of her best techniques to help you create more effective meetings.For example, in this podcast you'll learn:How to honestly respond to the question, "Why are we having this meeting?" 	How to embrace change even though it feels unnatural 	How to say no to "We've always done it this way" and move on 	Why letting people talk about themselves is so important, as long as it doesn't interfere with the purpose of your meetings 	Why you should watch Simon Sinek's fantastic TED talk titled, "How Great Leaders Inspire Action" 	How to create a sense of urgency which will allow you to actually make the change occur 	How to answer the question, "If our organization didn't exist, what would happen?" 	Why your meetings should have a higher purpose 	How to ensure that the right people are in the meeting by creating a corporate culture that is mature enough to allow you not to invite people who won't be useful in the meeting 	Why it is important for your senior leader to be ambitious for the entire organization and how that approach can make your organization more profitable 	Why you should check your ego at the door before you enter a meetingShairose's Top 3 Change Management Techniques 	Ask and answer the question 'Why are we meeting?' 	Create a sense of urgency 	Get the right people into each meetingAbout Shairose LalaniShairose Lalani is an experienced senior leader with over 20 years of professional experience in change management, organizational development and operational leadership.  She has successfully managed, lead, and coached diverse teams in multiple industries and areas including: 	Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)/Business Support/IT Projects 	Healthcare 	Rehabilitation &amp; Disability Management 	Oil &amp; Gas 	Government 	Non-Profit OrganizationsShairose has demonstrated strength in the ability to quickly and accurately analyze a situation and work with stakeholders to create an appropriate solution.  Her success comes from building strong relationships and creating a compelling vision and road map for teams to follow. She is also Prosci certified, holds her Human Resource designation (CHRP), and has been certified to deliver the ExperienceChange workshop. If you'd like to get in touch with Shairose, please check out her website at lalaniconsulting.ca or send an email to shairose@lalaniconsulting.caSend an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!Links Mentioned In This Podcast 	Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire Action 	Leadership Wisdom From The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari - by Robin S. Sharma

If you had to change your the way you meet with your team right now, would you be resistant? Would your team be resistant? Change can be tough enough for one person and even more difficult for an entire team. Thankfully, today's expert is Shairose Lalani, a Change Management Professional who shares some of her best techniques to help you create more effective meetings. For example, in this podcast you'll learn: How to honestly respond to the question, "Why are we having this meeting?" 	How to embrace change even though it feels unnatural 	How to say no to "We've always done it this way" and move on 	Why letting people talk about themselves is so important, as long as it doesn't interfere with the purpose of your meetings 	Why you should watch Simon Sinek's fantastic TED talk titled, "How Great Leaders Inspire Action" 	How to create a sense of urgency which will allow you to actually make the change occur 	How to answer the question, "If our organization didn't exist, what would happen?" 	Why your meetings should have a higher purpose 	How to ensure that the right people are in the meeting by creating a corporate culture that is mature enough to allow you not to invite people who won't be useful in the meeting 	Why it is important for your senior leader to be ambitious for the entire organization and how that approach can make your organization more profitable 	Why you should check your ego at the door before you enter a meeting Shairose's Top 3 Change Management Techniques 	Ask and answer the question 'Why are we meeting?' 	Create a sense of urgency 	Get the right people into each meeting About Shairose Lalani Shairose Lalani is an experienced senior leader with over 20 years of professional experience in change management, organizational development and operational leadership.  She has successfully managed, lead, and coached diverse teams in multiple industries and areas including: 	Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)/Business Support/IT Projects 	Healthcare 	Rehabilitation &amp; Disability Management 	Oil &amp; Gas 	Government 	Non-Profit Organizations Shairose has demonstrated strength in the ability to quickly and accurately analyze a situation and work with stakeholders to create an appropriate solution.  Her success comes from building strong relationships and creating a compelling vision and road map for teams to follow. She is also Prosci certified, holds her Human Resource designation (CHRP), and has been certified to deliver the ExperienceChange workshop. If you'd like to get in touch with Shairose, please check out her website at <a href="http://lalaniconsulting.ca" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">lalaniconsulting.ca</a> or send an email to shairose@lalaniconsulting.ca Send an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download! Links Mentioned In This Podcast 	Simon Sinek: How Great Leaders Inspire Action 	Leadership Wisdom From The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari - by Robin S. Sharma

CAM 006: How Change Management Techniques Create Awesome Meetings

Have you got :20 seconds to make your next meeting awesome? Have you got 20 X :20 seconds?Because episode 10 of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is a recording of me (Gord Sheppard) delivering a PechaKucha style talk called "10 Ways To Create Awesome Meetings" to the Emerging Health Leaders group in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.What is PechaKucha you ask? According to PechaKucha.org, “PechaKucha 20×20 is a simple presentation format where you show 20 images, each for 20 seconds. The images advance automatically and you talk along to the images.”That’s 6 minutes and :40 seconds of your life that you’re never going to get back, whether you’re giving the talk or you’re in the audience.And as a Speaker I can tell you that this format is very challenging because you have to be succinct and well prepared, which is why you're going to get a whole lot of meeting productivity information and inspiration in a very short time during today's podcast episode, including tips like: 	Why getting real by building trust with your team is so important 	Why it is so important to understand that you can choose how you act in a meeting 	Why meetings are your early warning system because they are a small snapshot of how your organization is functioning overall 	How to make sure that you have the right people, so that you can make your meeting successful 	How to make an awesom POINT whenever it's your turn to speak 	A fast formula to help you calculate the actual cost of your meetings 	Why it is so important to have a great meeting facilitator 	Why it is worth finding a meeting Mentor 	How to link your meeting to your strategy 	Why it is critical to take the time to market your agenda so that you get buy-in 	Why the space that you meet in is as important as what you're meeting about 	Why walking meetings are essential 	How to find awesome resources 	How to follow up FAST 	How to figure out what inspires you so that you'll make your next meeting greatSend an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download! Links Mentioned In This Podcast 	Emerging Health Leaders - Edmonton 	PechaKucha.org 	37 Billion Is Lost Every Year On These Meeting Mistakes - www.businessinsider.com 	The How To Create Awesome Meetings Workshop

Have you got :20 seconds to make your next meeting awesome? Have you got 20 X :20 seconds? Because episode 10 of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is a recording of me (Gord Sheppard) delivering a PechaKucha style talk called "10 Ways To Create Awesome Meetings" to the Emerging Health Leaders group in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. What is PechaKucha you ask? According to <a href="http://PechaKucha.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PechaKucha.org</a>, “PechaKucha 20×20 is a simple presentation format where you show 20 images, each for 20 seconds. The images advance automatically and you talk along to the images.” That’s 6 minutes and :40 seconds of your life that you’re never going to get back, whether you’re giving the talk or you’re in the audience. And as a Speaker I can tell you that this format is very challenging because you have to be succinct and well prepared, which is why you're going to get a whole lot of meeting productivity information and inspiration in a very short time during today's podcast episode, including tips like: 	Why getting real by building trust with your team is so important 	Why it is so important to understand that you can choose how you act in a meeting 	Why meetings are your early warning system because they are a small snapshot of how your organization is functioning overall 	How to make sure that you have the right people, so that you can make your meeting successful 	How to make an awesom POINT whenever it's your turn to speak 	A fast formula to help you calculate the actual cost of your meetings 	Why it is so important to have a great meeting facilitator 	Why it is worth finding a meeting Mentor 	How to link your meeting to your strategy 	Why it is critical to take the time to market your agenda so that you get buy-in 	Why the space that you meet in is as important as what you're meeting about 	Why walking meetings are essential 	How to find awesome resources 	How to follow up FAST 	How to figure out what inspires you so that you'll make your next meeting great Send an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!  Links Mentioned In This Podcast 	Emerging Health Leaders - Edmonton 	<a href="http://PechaKucha.org" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">PechaKucha.org</a> 	37 Billion Is Lost Every Year On These Meeting Mistakes - <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.businessinsider.com</a> 	The How To Create Awesome Meetings Workshop

CAM 010: 10 Ways To Create Awesome Meetings – PechaKucha Style!

If you're a Senior Leader, Manager or Executive who is in so many meetings that you don’t have time to do your regular work, then episode 8 of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is must-listen.That’s because today’s guest is Larry Schwenneker, a former Senior Director in Education, who not only ran a budget in excess of 500 million dollars, but who also figured out how to thrive in many of the thousands of meetings that he ran, and participated in.In this episode Larry shares his best insights about how to run fantastic senior level meetings including:Why teaching other people how they should treat you during meetings is so important 	How to stay on track and be respectful of all of the participant's time during meetings 	How you can make sure that nobody hijacks the meeting 	How to be clear about who you need in a meeting, and how well prepared they should be 	Why participants should always demand an agenda, and if they don’t get one before the meeting, why they should refuse to participate 	How each person who speaks should have a time limit, and if they go over that time limit then they should ask someone else to give up some of their time 	How peer pressure helps to create awesome meetings 	Why you should close the door when the meeting starts and not let any stragglers in, including your boss 	Why we need more nouns and verbs, and less adjectives and adverbs during meetings 	How effective meetings improve the overall quality of your life as well as the lives of everyone in your organizationLarry's Top 3 Meeting Management Techniques 	Participate with purpose 	Manage time well before, during and after the meeting 	Make the meeting as meaningful as possibleAbout Larry SchwennekerDuring his 35 year career as an educational administrator, Larry Schwenneker participated in, and ran, thousands of meetings. For the last 14 years he was the Senior Director of Facilities, Design, Construction, Energy and Environment who oversaw more than 200 schools and 9000 students and staff. At the peak of his career Larry was in charge of more than 500 million dollars in spending and as a result, he had to run effective meetings.These days Larry is retired and has ‘re-purposed’ himself as the owner of Topika Training and Development through which he helps organizations to become more effective overall. You can get in touch with Larry at www.topikatd.caQuote"If you're spending more time talking about meetings than the actual time you're spending in meetings, then there is a problem."Gord Sheppard, Professional Meeting Facilitator and ConsultantSend an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

If you're a Senior Leader, Manager or Executive who is in so many meetings that you don’t have time to do your regular work, then episode 8 of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is must-listen. That’s because today’s guest is Larry Schwenneker, a former Senior Director in Education, who not only ran a budget in excess of 500 million dollars, but who also figured out how to thrive in many of the thousands of meetings that he ran, and participated in. In this episode Larry shares his best insights about how to run fantastic senior level meetings including: Why teaching other people how they should treat you during meetings is so important 	How to stay on track and be respectful of all of the participant's time during meetings 	How you can make sure that nobody hijacks the meeting 	How to be clear about who you need in a meeting, and how well prepared they should be 	Why participants should always demand an agenda, and if they don’t get one before the meeting, why they should refuse to participate 	How each person who speaks should have a time limit, and if they go over that time limit then they should ask someone else to give up some of their time 	How peer pressure helps to create awesome meetings 	Why you should close the door when the meeting starts and not let any stragglers in, including your boss 	Why we need more nouns and verbs, and less adjectives and adverbs during meetings 	How effective meetings improve the overall quality of your life as well as the lives of everyone in your organization Larry's Top 3 Meeting Management Techniques 	Participate with purpose 	Manage time well before, during and after the meeting 	Make the meeting as meaningful as possible About Larry Schwenneker During his 35 year career as an educational administrator, Larry Schwenneker participated in, and ran, thousands of meetings. For the last 14 years he was the Senior Director of Facilities, Design, Construction, Energy and Environment who oversaw more than 200 schools and 9000 students and staff. At the peak of his career Larry was in charge of more than 500 million dollars in spending and as a result, he had to run effective meetings. These days Larry is retired and has ‘re-purposed’ himself as the owner of Topika Training and Development through which he helps organizations to become more effective overall. You can get in touch with Larry at <a href="http://www.topikatd.ca" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.topikatd.ca</a> Quote "If you're spending more time talking about meetings than the actual time you're spending in meetings, then there is a problem." Gord Sheppard, Professional Meeting Facilitator and Consultant Send an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

CAM 008: How Senior Leaders Can Create Awesome Meetings

Welcome!Have you ever been in a meeting where you knew for a fact that you didn’t have the right people in the room? Like a nonprofit fundraising meeting in which nobody had any money or the right contacts to get the money? Or a new product development meeting in which you invited all the regular people and nobody had a single new idea? If you would like to avoid this type of situation at your next meeting then episode 12 of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is perfect for you!That's because this episode is based on the 'How To Get The Right People Into Your Meetings Checklist' which includes great tips such as: 	How to create SMART goals for your next meeting (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-Bound) 	How to do a Meeting Team Traits Inventory (MTTI) 	How to list the current skills your meeting team has so you can compare that list to the full skill set you need to solve the problem, which will ensure that you know who should be included in the meeting 	Why training your team so they can acquire the right skills to make your meeting successful is so important 	Why demonstrating to your boss that getting the right people into a meeting is so profitable!Send an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!Links Mentioned In This PodcastSMART Goals explanation  - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_criteria

Welcome! Have you ever been in a meeting where you knew for a fact that you didn’t have the right people in the room? Like a nonprofit fundraising meeting in which nobody had any money or the right contacts to get the money? Or a new product development meeting in which you invited all the regular people and nobody had a single new idea? If you would like to avoid this type of situation at your next meeting then episode 12 of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is perfect for you! That's because this episode is based on the 'How To Get The Right People Into Your Meetings Checklist' which includes great tips such as: 	How to create SMART goals for your next meeting (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-Bound) 	How to do a Meeting Team Traits Inventory (MTTI) 	How to list the current skills your meeting team has so you can compare that list to the full skill set you need to solve the problem, which will ensure that you know who should be included in the meeting 	Why training your team so they can acquire the right skills to make your meeting successful is so important 	Why demonstrating to your boss that getting the right people into a meeting is so profitable! Send an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download! Links Mentioned In This Podcast SMART Goals explanation  - <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_criteria" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SMART_criteria</a>

CAM 012: How To Get The Right People Into Your Meetings

Do you want to poke your eyes out because someone won't shut-up during a meeting?Are you in meetings where what is being said has nothing to do with you? Don't you wish that people would just get to the point when they speak?Well, if that is the case then you're in for a treat because episode 007 of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast will show you a step-by-step process to help you and your colleagues make excellent POINTs whenever it's your turn to talk in a meeting. In this podcast you'll learn:How to use the word POINT as an acronym to remind you about the steps you need to take to be more effective when you speak during a meeting 	How to Prepare your point by connecting with your colleagues and also allowing for 'blue-sky' time so you can be creative 	How to Optimize your point by boiling down your preparation and doing the right amount of rehearsal 	How to Invite feedback after you've said your point by not saying a word so your colleagues can speak their minds 	How to Name the hurdles and solutions so that you can move your point forward quickly (or else why are you meeting in the first place?) 	How to Take action and designate who will carry out the project and when they will get it doneSend an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

Do you want to poke your eyes out because someone won't shut-up during a meeting? Are you in meetings where what is being said has nothing to do with you? Don't you wish that people would just get to the point when they speak? Well, if that is the case then you're in for a treat because episode 007 of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast will show you a step-by-step process to help you and your colleagues make excellent POINTs whenever it's your turn to talk in a meeting. In this podcast you'll learn: How to use the word POINT as an acronym to remind you about the steps you need to take to be more effective when you speak during a meeting 	How to Prepare your point by connecting with your colleagues and also allowing for 'blue-sky' time so you can be creative 	How to Optimize your point by boiling down your preparation and doing the right amount of rehearsal 	How to Invite feedback after you've said your point by not saying a word so your colleagues can speak their minds 	How to Name the hurdles and solutions so that you can move your point forward quickly (or else why are you meeting in the first place?) 	How to Take action and designate who will carry out the project and when they will get it done Send an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

CAM 007: How To Make An Effective POINT During A Meeting

Are you looking for a once-in-a-lifetime destination in the Canadian Rockies to book your next corporate meeting?Do also you want to ensure that your event is seamless? Then this episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is for you! That's because you're going to hear from Barb Wallace, the Manager of Conference Services and Catering at the world-class Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel.In this episode Barb shares great destination meeting insights including:How the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is set in an overwhelmingly beautiful location with all kinds of unique opportunities from golf, to skiing to climbing and more 	How the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel provides a seamless experience for your corporate events 	Why the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel has created special position for a 'Conference Concierge' who is available 24 hours a day to make sure your event is perfect 	How the hotel chefs provide 'unsurpassable' meal choices and cater to all dietary concerns 	How PSAV ensures that all audio-visual concerns are taken care of 	Why the website is so easy to use and has everything you need from menus to photos and more (www.fairmont/banffsprings.com) 	Why the staff has actually tried so many of the dishes as well as experiencing the amenities, which allows them to speak confidently with all guests 	Why Fairmont partners with JD Power and Associates to gather guest feedback which allows them to consistently improve 	Why you should check out www.tripadvisor.com to learn more about what people are saying about this destination 	Why it's important for the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel to give back to the community 	Why environmental excellence is so important 	How they can expertly handle groups of any size from 8 - 800 and more 	Why you'll love swimming in the outdoor pool as the snow gently falls and you're looking out over the Canadian Rocky MountainsBarb's Top 3 Corporate Meeting Booking Suggestions 	Be aware of what time of year you want to book a destination meeting in the Rocky Mountains so you can take proper of advantage of amenities like world class golf in the summer or fantastic skiing in the winter 	Get started by checking out floorplans, menus, photos and more on www.fairmont.com/banffsprings, and then brainstorm with the highly trained staff to customize an awesome destination meeting experience 	Learn as much as possible about both what the hotel and the surrounding area have to offer so you don't miss any once-in-a-lifetime opportunitiesAbout Barb WallaceBarb Wallace is the Manager of Conference Services and Catering (CSM) at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. With more than 27 years of experience Barb is the perfect liaison between guests, clients and all hotel teams. She ensures that all the details of your stay are properly carried out and that the planning and execution of your event is top-knotch. You can get in touch with Barb at barb.wallace@fairmont.comLinks Mentioned In This Episode 	www.fairmont.com/banffsprings www.tripadvisor.com 	PSAV - http://canada.psav.com/ 	JD Power and Associates - http://canada.jdpower.com/Send an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

Are you looking for a once-in-a-lifetime destination in the Canadian Rockies to book your next corporate meeting? Do also you want to ensure that your event is seamless? Then this episode of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast is for you! That's because you're going to hear from Barb Wallace, the Manager of Conference Services and Catering at the world-class Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. In this episode Barb shares great destination meeting insights including: How the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel is set in an overwhelmingly beautiful location with all kinds of unique opportunities from golf, to skiing to climbing and more 	How the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel provides a seamless experience for your corporate events 	Why the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel has created special position for a 'Conference Concierge' who is available 24 hours a day to make sure your event is perfect 	How the hotel chefs provide 'unsurpassable' meal choices and cater to all dietary concerns 	How PSAV ensures that all audio-visual concerns are taken care of 	Why the website is so easy to use and has everything you need from menus to photos and more (www.fairmont/<a href="http://banffsprings.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">banffsprings.com</a>) 	Why the staff has actually tried so many of the dishes as well as experiencing the amenities, which allows them to speak confidently with all guests 	Why Fairmont partners with JD Power and Associates to gather guest feedback which allows them to consistently improve 	Why you should check out <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.tripadvisor.com</a> to learn more about what people are saying about this destination 	Why it's important for the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel to give back to the community 	Why environmental excellence is so important 	How they can expertly handle groups of any size from 8 - 800 and more 	Why you'll love swimming in the outdoor pool as the snow gently falls and you're looking out over the Canadian Rocky Mountains Barb's Top 3 Corporate Meeting Booking Suggestions 	Be aware of what time of year you want to book a destination meeting in the Rocky Mountains so you can take proper of advantage of amenities like world class golf in the summer or fantastic skiing in the winter 	Get started by checking out floorplans, menus, photos and more on <a href="http://www.fairmont.com/banffsprings" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.fairmont.com/banffsprings</a>, and then brainstorm with the highly trained staff to customize an awesome destination meeting experience 	Learn as much as possible about both what the hotel and the surrounding area have to offer so you don't miss any once-in-a-lifetime opportunities About Barb Wallace Barb Wallace is the Manager of Conference Services and Catering (CSM) at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. With more than 27 years of experience Barb is the perfect liaison between guests, clients and all hotel teams. She ensures that all the details of your stay are properly carried out and that the planning and execution of your event is top-knotch. You can get in touch with Barb at barb.wallace@fairmont.com Links Mentioned In This Episode 	<a href="http://www.fairmont.com/banffsprings" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.fairmont.com/banffsprings</a> <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.tripadvisor.com</a> 	PSAV - <a href="http://canada.psav.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://canada.psav.com/</a> 	JD Power and Associates - <a href="http://canada.jdpower.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://canada.jdpower.com/</a> Send an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

CAM 013: How The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel Creates Awesome Meetings

Do you believe that sitting is the new smoking? Are you ready to try something new with your next meeting to make it more productive? Then it's time to try a walking meeting.Because whether you're a CEO, manager, employee or volunteer, if you want to make your next meeting more productive and profitable, then it's time to get mobile! And episode 4 of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast can help you do just that, because it features expert walking meeting connoisseur Fred Keating. In this interview Fred shares valuable tips and inspiration that you can get moving right away including:How walking meetings are a great way to combine your daily exercise with getting together with your team 	How walking meetings get your blood moving so you can think more clearly and creatively 	How moving in the same direction changes the dynamic of your meeting because you're not making direct eye contact across a table, so it is less confrontational and you don't get the chance to over-read body-language 	How this is a great way to start a business relationship because you're sharing a common out-of-the-office experience that you will be able to refer back to for as long as you work together 	How walking meetings allow for what Fred calls 'plausible pauses', as in creative distractions that occur along the way that allow either person to stop and listen more deeply or formulate a more thorough answer. Plausible pauses might include seeing something in nature, noting some great architecture, stopping for a coffee etc. 	How you should bring a notebook and a pen for you, as well as an extra for whoever you're with so that when you stop for a 'plausible pause' you can then record your fantastic new discoveries 	How to choose where to walk so that you avoid crowds, traffic and allow for more continuous walking instead of stops and starts 	How to give you and your meeting team actual permission to do a walking meeting 	Why it is worthwhile to actually take a short drive to an inspiring location, instead of settling for the office boardroomAbout Fred KeatingFred Keating is a businessman, actor, corporate educator and the owner of Lindisfarne Productions, a successful video production company. He has appeared in television and film, as well as live in front of thousands at major corporate events across North America. Fred combines decades of work experience with a holistic approach to building relationships, which includes intentionally taking people out for walking meetings because Fred understands that it is one of the most profitable ways to do business. If you'd like to get in touch, you can reach Fred at  fred@monetizingyourcreativity.comSend an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!Links Mentioned In This Podcast 	The Monetizing Your Creativity Podcast with Fred Keating and Marvin PolisQuote"You can learn everything you need to know about a man during the first three holes of a round of golf."  Fred Keating (who learned this saying from his Dad)

Do you believe that sitting is the new smoking? Are you ready to try something new with your next meeting to make it more productive? Then it's time to try a walking meeting. Because whether you're a CEO, manager, employee or volunteer, if you want to make your next meeting more productive and profitable, then it's time to get mobile! And episode 4 of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast can help you do just that, because it features expert walking meeting connoisseur Fred Keating. In this interview Fred shares valuable tips and inspiration that you can get moving right away including: How walking meetings are a great way to combine your daily exercise with getting together with your team 	How walking meetings get your blood moving so you can think more clearly and creatively 	How moving in the same direction changes the dynamic of your meeting because you're not making direct eye contact across a table, so it is less confrontational and you don't get the chance to over-read body-language 	How this is a great way to start a business relationship because you're sharing a common out-of-the-office experience that you will be able to refer back to for as long as you work together 	How walking meetings allow for what Fred calls 'plausible pauses', as in creative distractions that occur along the way that allow either person to stop and listen more deeply or formulate a more thorough answer. Plausible pauses might include seeing something in nature, noting some great architecture, stopping for a coffee etc. 	How you should bring a notebook and a pen for you, as well as an extra for whoever you're with so that when you stop for a 'plausible pause' you can then record your fantastic new discoveries 	How to choose where to walk so that you avoid crowds, traffic and allow for more continuous walking instead of stops and starts 	How to give you and your meeting team actual permission to do a walking meeting 	Why it is worthwhile to actually take a short drive to an inspiring location, instead of settling for the office boardroom About Fred Keating Fred Keating is a businessman, actor, corporate educator and the owner of Lindisfarne Productions, a successful video production company. He has appeared in television and film, as well as live in front of thousands at major corporate events across North America. Fred combines decades of work experience with a holistic approach to building relationships, which includes intentionally taking people out for walking meetings because Fred understands that it is one of the most profitable ways to do business. If you'd like to get in touch, you can reach Fred at  fred@monetizingyourcreativity.com Send an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download! Links Mentioned In This Podcast 	The Monetizing Your Creativity Podcast with Fred Keating and Marvin Polis Quote "You can learn everything you need to know about a man during the first three holes of a round of golf."  Fred Keating (who learned this saying from his Dad)

CAM 004: How To Create Awesome Walking Meetings

When you get knocked down or frustrated during a meeting, how do you react? Do you get angry? Do you get quiet?Do you spend more time complaining about the meeting than the actual time that you spent in the meeting? If this sounds familiar then you're in the right place because episode 11 of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast features Zaheen Nanji, an experienced resiliency expert who will share a wealth of practical resiliency techniques and information including:How to stop letting fear control you 	How to take little steps that add up to big wins when it comes to being more resilient 	Why it is so important to get feedback about how you act during a meeting 	Why is is critical to be clear about your intentions going into a meeting 	How to pause first, think and then react - even when you're under stress during a meeting 	Why it is so important not to project what you're feeling onto others 	How you can learn to use Neuro-linguistic programming techniques to stop speaking negatively 	Why gaining the ability to disassociate from yourself at the right moment is so important 	How to be empathetic with other people so that you can understand their positive intentionsZaheen's Top 3 Meeting Management Techniques 	Have a clear intention when you head into a meeting 	Take the time to be empathetic and understand other people's positive intentions 	Listen and understand the other person's language before you say anythingAbout Zaheen NanjiPeople who don't know Zaheen's background sometimes assume that achieving success was easy for her. That couldn't be further from the truth. Her first challenge began around age 5, when an incident left her with a speech impediment-stuttering.As she got accustomed to the people around her in Kenya and they got accustomed to her speech, another change occurred at the age of 15 - her parents sent her to Canada to create better educational opportunities, but this move made her speech even worse; she lost confidence in herself and found comfort in food.Even after going through speech therapy in her twenties, Zaheen wasn't cured, but this was the stepping stone to finding her VOICE.As Zaheen completed her education in Nutrition &amp; Food Science and Environmental Health, she became determined to understand the source of her speech impediment because it had such an impact on things she wanted to do but felt she couldn't. Using her strategies to embrace fear rather than run from it, she slowly started her transformation.While balancing her family, Zaheen has created a successful health and wellness business and simultaneously acquired 3 rental properties within a span of less than 36 months. Not only an entrepreneur, Zaheen is also the author of an award-winning book on behavior weight loss which won a bronze medal at the Global E-book Awards and was featured in the top 10 in Women Business Owners Today E-zine .Her system of transformation and excellence is grounded in building your resilience muscle which is the daily practice of the three R's - Release, Reprogram and Resolve. She offers an array of time-tested techniques and powerful principles to propel her clients toward their definitions of success.For many people who stutter, simply being able to stop stuttering is a dream come true. But Zaheen has run with the dream and is now a sought-after transformational speaker.Her flourishing career has inspired her to share her system of success and transformation, a hybrid of science and technique called the RESILIENCE REFLEX™ where she teaches her clients and audiences how to easily embrace change and bounce back so that resilience becomes your first reflex!You can get in touch with Zaheen at info@zaheennanji.com Links Mentioned In This Episode 	“The Resilience Reflex - 8 keys to transforming barriers into success in life and in business" - available on Amazon.com www.zaheennanji.comSend an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

When you get knocked down or frustrated during a meeting, how do you react? Do you get angry? Do you get quiet? Do you spend more time complaining about the meeting than the actual time that you spent in the meeting? If this sounds familiar then you're in the right place because episode 11 of the Create Awesome Meetings Podcast features Zaheen Nanji, an experienced resiliency expert who will share a wealth of practical resiliency techniques and information including: How to stop letting fear control you 	How to take little steps that add up to big wins when it comes to being more resilient 	Why it is so important to get feedback about how you act during a meeting 	Why is is critical to be clear about your intentions going into a meeting 	How to pause first, think and then react - even when you're under stress during a meeting 	Why it is so important not to project what you're feeling onto others 	How you can learn to use Neuro-linguistic programming techniques to stop speaking negatively 	Why gaining the ability to disassociate from yourself at the right moment is so important 	How to be empathetic with other people so that you can understand their positive intentions Zaheen's Top 3 Meeting Management Techniques 	Have a clear intention when you head into a meeting 	Take the time to be empathetic and understand other people's positive intentions 	Listen and understand the other person's language before you say anything About Zaheen Nanji People who don't know Zaheen's background sometimes assume that achieving success was easy for her. That couldn't be further from the truth. Her first challenge began around age 5, when an incident left her with a speech impediment-stuttering. As she got accustomed to the people around her in Kenya and they got accustomed to her speech, another change occurred at the age of 15 - her parents sent her to Canada to create better educational opportunities, but this move made her speech even worse; she lost confidence in herself and found comfort in food. Even after going through speech therapy in her twenties, Zaheen wasn't cured, but this was the stepping stone to finding her VOICE. As Zaheen completed her education in Nutrition &amp; Food Science and Environmental Health, she became determined to understand the source of her speech impediment because it had such an impact on things she wanted to do but felt she couldn't. Using her strategies to embrace fear rather than run from it, she slowly started her transformation. While balancing her family, Zaheen has created a successful health and wellness business and simultaneously acquired 3 rental properties within a span of less than 36 months. Not only an entrepreneur, Zaheen is also the author of an award-winning book on behavior weight loss which won a bronze medal at the Global E-book Awards and was featured in the top 10 in Women Business Owners Today E-zine . Her system of transformation and excellence is grounded in building your resilience muscle which is the daily practice of the three R's - Release, Reprogram and Resolve. She offers an array of time-tested techniques and powerful principles to propel her clients toward their definitions of success. For many people who stutter, simply being able to stop stuttering is a dream come true. But Zaheen has run with the dream and is now a sought-after transformational speaker. Her flourishing career has inspired her to share her system of success and transformation, a hybrid of science and technique called the RESILIENCE REFLEX™ where she teaches her clients and audiences how to easily embrace change and bounce back so that resilience becomes your first reflex! You can get in touch with Zaheen at info@zaheennanji.com  Links Mentioned In This Episode 	“The Resilience Reflex - 8 keys to transforming barriers into success in life and in business" - available on <a href="http://Amazon.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a> <a href="http://www.zaheennanji.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.zaheennanji.com</a> Send an email to info@meetingleadershipinc.com to get the FREE download!

CAM 011: How Resiliency Techniques Create Awesome Meetings

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