Finding options
You will now watch and consider two videos, ‘So in the end the group found options’ and ‘So the idea is’.
Activity 10
Video 1: ‘So in the end the group found options’
Watch Alan and Lisa discuss Louise, and how to engage Grace.
Download this video clip.Video player: So in the end the group found options
Transcript: So in the end the group found options
LISA
So, in the end the group found options that suited most of the teams’ requirements. I think Louise managed to get out all of her issues in the end, although it did take a while.
ALAN
Yeah, she’s got some great ideas and I really want to get her involved in the next meeting. At least she’s interested in getting involved. The person I’ve got the real difficulty with is Grace.
LISA
The phone thing…
ALAN
Yes! I mean, does she ever put that phone down or turn it off? She just sits there, throws in the odd bombshell and then either walks away or starts talking about an issue that’s not even connected to whatever we’re discussing. It’s really hard to keep things moving when you’ve got someone in the room like that.
LISA
I agree… very difficult… I always like to mention something about switching phones off when I’m starting a meeting with a group like this. There’s nothing worse than somebody disengaging from a discussion to go and check on their emails.
ALAN
Yeah. But how do I keep her attention throughout the meeting?
LISA
It’s a bit like with Louise… you have to involve her personally in the conversation. Get her committed to the group and its outcomes.
FADE OUT
So in the end the group found options
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Video 2: ‘So the idea is’
Observe how Lisa gets Grace to contribute to the discussion.
Download this video clip.Video player: So the idea is
Transcript: So the idea is
MARCUS
So the idea is that the meeting room will be bookable and used by any of us if we want a private meeting or some time to work alone. The booking will be handled by Jenny in Admin, I think. Of course, we need to guard against anyone taking advantage of the system by booking it for long periods of time or for no good reason. Should we perhaps decide what constitutes a good reason now or is that best left to people’s own consciences?
[During this speech, Grace leans across to Mark and they have a whispered conversation across Marcus and Lisa]
LISA
What do you think about this Grace?
GRACE
About what?
LISA
Well, Marcus was just asking whether we should discuss the potential usage of the meeting rooms now or rely on the booking arrangements not being abused?
GRACE
Sorry… I didn’t hear what he was saying. I was talking to Mark about a piece of software that we could really do with getting before the end of the financial year.
LISA
That sounds interesting, but can you help me relate that to the meeting room discussion?
GRACE
Well, it doesn’t relate.
LISA
OK. Perhaps it’s an idea to add that onto the agenda for a discussion?
GRACE
Well, it’s a good piece of kit that we could all benefit from but I don’t think it’s really related to the move issue.
LISA
OK. Well, let’s stay with the discussion about the meeting room until we’re a bit clearer on the implications. What do you think about the idea of booking the meeting room in advance?
GRACE
Well, personally I think it’s the only way. Otherwise there’ll be no way of telling if it’s available when you really need it, like for appraisals or one-to-ones.
MICHELLE
I think we’d have to be a bit careful. There’d always be people wanting to abuse the system… booking it up for set times every week.
GRACE
Well there are certain meetings that happen every week. Our team get together on a Friday morning to get up to speed with what’s happened that week. Would you see that as inappropriate?
LISA
Let’s open it out to the group. What would constitute taking advantage?
FADE OUT
So the idea is
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Reflections on Lisa with Grace
- What did you notice about what Lisa did?
- In what other ways could she have got Grace to engage in the discussion?
Note your thoughts in the box below.
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