Tune up your EQ

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A retreat is announced at your organisation. Do you feel excited, apprehensive or neutral? One thing’s for sure, you’re feeling something

I’ve facilitated retreats of all sizes, from community events, to business strategy sessions to summits led by Jamaica’s (then)Prime Minister. There’s a thread that runs through every retreat encounter.

Emotions are always involved..for those taking part…and for the facilitator

Tune up your EQ reader from Jamaica, Tanika Williams, who also featured in the Me and My EQ series, asked me this question about retreats:

” is there a way by which the facilitator may get feedback as to how each participant feels? In other words, is it possible to ask each participant to give a quantitative summary of at least two strengths and weaknesses of such a process/presentation? Or what they think could have been done better?”

Here are 13 tips that I use to help my participants use their emotional intelligence (instead of leaving it at the door on their way in). It helps them to get the most out of their retreats.

Before

1) Engage participants before the programme by inviting their comments, queries and expectations. Thanks, Ellen Weber for this suggestion.
2) Gauge where people are at emotionally at the beginning of the retreat by getting them to rate how they feel.

During

3) Continue to check how they’re feeling by asking them as the retreat develops.
4) Observe participants’ body language.
5) Adjust your approach during the retreat as 3 and 4 change.

Towards The End of Each Session

6) Ask participants to rate their levels of understanding of the planned next steps.
7) Ask them about their level of commitment to the next steps.

At The End of The Retreat

Finish off the retreat with a “closing circle, where everyone gets the chance to offer his/her comments.
9) Ask everyone to complete a written evaluation form.

After The Retreat

10) Produce a report that summarises the evaluation form
11) Review the summary report with the project sponsor
12) Ask the project sponsor a series of open ended questions to help evaluate the impact of the retreat.
13) Do a follow up evaluation in six months time.

Could these tips help you achieve more at your next retreat?

What other tips would help to make it more effective?

Be sure to read the other tipsd in the Related Posts section of this article.

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I’m really delighted to welcome Dr. Ellen Weber, President of the MITA Brain Based Business Center in Rochester, New York as the first guest blogger on Tune up your EQ. Ellen’s article is part of a conversation that we’ve been sharing about change and creative spaces. The links for my 3 articles as guest blogger for Ellen’s award-winning Brain Based Business Blog are at the foot of Ellen’s post.

Enjoy Ellen’s insights about leadership and positive change.

Thanks Galba for your leadership, your friendship and especially for the keen insights expressed in … 3 Creative Spaces for “Managing” Positive Change. Your moving story of change within the Government of Jamaica - inspires all of us.

What a curiosity building question …

Are you energized by the exciting possibilities that positive change offers?

Yes, I am energized … as Dr. Robyn McMaster and I create space for change here at the MITA Brain Based Centerthrough two-footed questions
Our work with university faculty and top administrators recently drew from their own questions that created space and showed the need for change in higher education – if it is to serve learners.

We create space for change though MITA’s five entry points by spotting and drawing from multiple intelligence brainpower for profitability
Your process of difficulties being replaced by high spirited problem solving says it all!
We target positive changes – and then brainstorm with stake holders and those who will implement these changes. Like you mentioned we also hit walls and make mistakes. Did I just say we make mistakes?

Now that I think of it … that’s likely why we ask ourselves and the leaders with whom we work …

Where do mistakes from yesterday meet your talents today?

The greatest impediment to change that we encounter comes from what we term Hebbian habits. The second great wall to change we see is tone trouble – which becomes a silent killer in a group going after changes.

In all these impediments to change though … we find – as you stated:

…”It’s easier to respect others if you make a habit of managing your self.”

I’d like to add to that …

“It’s easier to change systems when you create new approaches with brain based benefits.”

Here at MITA Brain Based Center … we work daily with people to improve some part of their leadership, learning or business approaches –in ways that create space for mind-bending profitability.

Did I mention this is the most satisfying work in the universe - even after 30 years as a change agent. Now it’s your turn to jump into creative spaces Galba Bright created and tell us about change at your workplace….

Have you considered ways to be part of the process for any rejuvenated visions lately?

Links to Galba Bright’s Leadership For Positive Change Articles For Brain Based Business

Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

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The Donkey, The Elderly Man and The Young Boy

A donkey, an elderly man and a young boy come into town. The elderly man sits astride the donkey and the young boy walks by the donkey’s side. A crowd appears. They shout and scream at the elderly man.

A man with a strident voice yells:

“you wicked, cruel selfish man. How can you be riding the donkey and making the poor boy walk?”

The elderly man gets off the donkey. He is full of shame. He places the young boy on the donkey and rides into the next town. Another crowd gathers. They’re armed with rotten tomatoes. They pelt the boy with the tomatoes and scream abuse at him:

“How can you, a young boy be so mean? You’re a discgrace. Have you no respect for your elders and betters?”

The young boy bursts into tears.

The elderly man ponders his next move. There’s only one logical choice. He climbs on the donkey and joins the young boy. They ride together to the next town.

Along the way, the Donkey Welfare Society members accost the unlikely trio. They beat the elderly man and the boy with sticks. The Donkey Welfare Society members say very little. Actions speak louder than words.

Bruised and embattled, the elderly man ponders his options. The Donkey Welfare Society members were right. It makes sense to let the donkey have a well earned rest. The elderly man and the boy get off the donkey. They walk beside the donkey and walk into the next town. The crowd at the next town has 2 straitjackets ready for the elderly man and the young boy. Surely only mad people would have a healthy donkey, yet insist on walking.

How To LOSE Friends And Influence People

What will be the story of your work this week? Why not try this approach?

1. Know your own story

• Make a realistic assessment of your strengths and weaknesses and use that knowledge to guide your behaviour.
• Recognise that every moment of the day you are telling yourself a story. Study your self talk and pledge to tell yourself a positive, gratitude filled story.
• know what your values are, know the things that you’re passionate about.

2. Use your discernment to assess the stories that others tell you

• your heart and your mind will identify the stories that resonate with you.
• combine everything you’ve been given, your common sense, your intellect and intuition to achieve amazing results.

3.Work with others to build a compelling story

• Adopt a passionate approach to your work.
• Watch the ripple effect as your business soars to new levels of effectiveness.
• Show respect for others and enjoy the pleasures of true teamwork.

What I’ve Learned

I’ve learned that the story begins with each of us and we owe it to each to tell our story and enable others to tell theirs.

My mother told me this story. She was taught the story by her grandmother. It inspired me during my recent work in Barbados. It galvanised me to encourage many of the Learning Programme participants to tell their Emotional Intelligence Stories.

They taught us as they shared their experiences and we all learned far more than if we’d sat through a series of lectures.

The Bottom Line

Simply put, storytelling works.

This post is written as a submission for Ellen Weber’s Enter Your Blog To Create A Book Group Writing Project. Ellen’s new initiative was triggered by her One Word Inspirations From 100 Sites blog post, where she kindly included Tune up your EQ under the word “improve.”

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A Nice Relaxing Read
I was taking a nice gentle stroll through Ellen Weber’s Brain Based Business Blog when I came across an intruiging article about the many faces of Albert Einstein’s intelligence. Although I was taking life easy after a challenging day, I asked Ellen if she had some examples of how the wise man used his multiple intelligences.

Ellen Sparks New Ideas

Ellen replied that this was an interesting notion.

Something strange happened immediately after that…..I ended up asking my own question.

Not once, but twice. A nice gentle unwinding stroll led to me giving myself more hard work.

But it wasn’t hard work at all.

It was a pleasure.

3 Reflective Questions

I’ve reflected on this experience and how it catapulted me to excitement and I’ve chatted about it with some friends. 3 things sparked my curiousity

1)What led me to taking on even more work when that wasn’t what I had in mind originally?

2)Why was it so easy for me to write it?

3)Why did the title EQ, So Easy Even Einstein Can Do It pop into my head so easily when I was out walking?

I find it fascinating.

3 Conclusions.

1)A person who can write about complex matters in a clear manner has a fantastic talent.
2)Anyone who uses the written word to inspire others to take positive action has a great gift.
3)Ellen Weber has these qualities in abundance

Whilst writing this post, I came across a fascinating post that made the connection between Einstein and the qualities required to be a successful blogger. Again, Ellen Weber’s post inspired this writer.

Who Rewires Your Brain?

Which writers/bloggers inspire you to extend yourself and reach for higher heights?

Why not share your recommendations so we can all benefit?

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