Yay, Chad!! The timing for this couldn't be better for my organization. We are a non profit (working to build a children's museum in northern Israel) and we have our first board retreat (one day event) next month. I got the We!Connect cards to use at the beginning to create connection before content. I'll take at least one of these ideas, maybe I'll combine two, for closing the event. I think you could consider me a raving fan on UA-cam. 😉 I appreciate all you are sharing here. Thank you so much. PS I'd like to contribute to the conversation here so here's something I've done to end retreats I've held for women. It also uses blank cards and envelopes to mail sometime later. I have each participant write a blessing they'd like to give to one of the other participants on a card. It will be anonymous. They don't know who they're writing it for. It's a lovely wish for another person. They also address an envelope so they get their blessing in the mail. They are always so lovely and heartfelt. (Keep track of the notes by tables so the sender doesn't get their own back.) As facilitator I write one and keep one too. This comes after a mingling exercise where each participant faces another and instead of asking a question, gives a blessing. Then switch partners. It's timed depending on the size of the group. It always starts awkward and always, always ends with hugs and often tears and the blessings go deep.
Lovely! Anything this intentional is bound to go over well 👍👍 Wonderful wishes and blessings to YOU as you set out to build this museum for all our future leaders.
All of these and the suggestion below were so helpful! Just starting a new project for mental health professionals and storytelling ("because therapists rarely have spaces to tell . . . ." Your ending will be perfect! Thank you!
Storytelling is such a beautiful framing and outlet for therapists! Glad to know you are working on this, Tamara. Here is a story of one of the best storytellers I ever met. Perhaps you'll enjoy it too: ua-cam.com/video/wwXgFLCah3M/v-deo.html
Go timing on the video for me two. I’m a HR Manager and I was looking for a memorable way to end my New Hire Orientation…I’m going to use the “write a letter” to yourself. I’m going to have them write a letter 90 days from hire. I like the TEA too. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
You could send people to www.wonder.me or a platform like that which would allow people to free roam. I also like ending a session sometimes actually IN a breakout. I prompt people as to what we'll do in breakouts, then I send people off letting them know that they can remain in there for as little or as long as they would like 👍👍 There are two quick, simple ways delivered via UA-cam comment haha.
You talk a lot about intention, Chad. And you live it out. Even the best of us, however, can lose clarity on our intention when we present to a group. We all have real, complex lives outside of a presentation, and so some of that can easily leak in, stealing our focus. As examples, I've gone into presentations physically sick, or having gotten only three hours of sleep... even having lost a loved one within a day of presenting. Whatever the reasons-and many of them are completely human and understandable-when the focus shifts to "me" instead of "we," I've noticed that endings more often lack focus or power. The trick then becomes having a workable "ritual" for asking myself about my focus and intention, acknowledging where it may have shifted inward, and resetting it before presenting. If we're able to set our intention to "we" (or even "they"), I find it helps alleviate pressure that can get us off track in presenting, with the most notable derailing happening when we run out of time. It's also energizing to have an intention and purpose outside of "getting through what I think I need to present within the time frame." The fact is that whether the presentation is to a firm of serious accountants or to a classroom of third graders, our "intention people" don't usually know exactly what we had PLANNED to say or present. If we build rapport (which is easy when our intention is set outward), they usually just trust that we know what we're doing and have their best interest in mind. And that gives us freedom to divert from course when needed-shorten this point, cut that one. All of this is to say, if we can set our intention to having attendees feel connected, valued, energized and experiencing forward momentum, your suggestions and a host of others work naturally, because such a conclusion matches our intention. AND... it's OK to not have perfect endings every time. Even if my intentions were well set (or reset), things happen. Bodies and minds have limitations. Still, with the right intention, I've found that while I myself may have wished for "the perfect ending" and not achieved it, what people experienced may be a lot more positive than we think. People just sort of know when you're for them and with them rather than just getting through a talk. And that goes a long way.
100% who you are BEING with a group sticks far more than what you are DOING around them. I'm sure there are exceptions, haha, but for the most part, actions speak louder than words, but authenticity and an other-centered intent speaks louder than action.
![Virtual Meeting Etiquette [DOS & DON'TS]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/HYUVXQfaVp0/mqdefault.jpg)
If you "like" the video, feel free to click that 👍button. Would love to hear about what was most useful to you in the comments too!
Yay, Chad!! The timing for this couldn't be better for my organization. We are a non profit (working to build a children's museum in northern Israel) and we have our first board retreat (one day event) next month. I got the We!Connect cards to use at the beginning to create connection before content. I'll take at least one of these ideas, maybe I'll combine two, for closing the event.
I think you could consider me a raving fan on UA-cam. 😉 I appreciate all you are sharing here. Thank you so much.
PS I'd like to contribute to the conversation here so here's something I've done to end retreats I've held for women. It also uses blank cards and envelopes to mail sometime later. I have each participant write a blessing they'd like to give to one of the other participants on a card. It will be anonymous. They don't know who they're writing it for. It's a lovely wish for another person. They also address an envelope so they get their blessing in the mail. They are always so lovely and heartfelt. (Keep track of the notes by tables so the sender doesn't get their own back.) As facilitator I write one and keep one too. This comes after a mingling exercise where each participant faces another and instead of asking a question, gives a blessing. Then switch partners. It's timed depending on the size of the group. It always starts awkward and always, always ends with hugs and often tears and the blessings go deep.
Lovely! Anything this intentional is bound to go over well 👍👍 Wonderful wishes and blessings to YOU as you set out to build this museum for all our future leaders.
Great video Chad! Love to see you have connected with Romy! She is indeed a wonderful human being. 🙌
Romy, indeed, is a wonderful human being! Was glad to have a good excuse to invite her into the mix.
So nice to see Romy do a cameo in your video!! You have to come and visit us in Germany, Chad 🙂
Would love to get back to Germany!
All of these and the suggestion below were so helpful! Just starting a new project for mental health professionals and storytelling ("because therapists rarely have spaces to tell . . . ." Your ending will be perfect! Thank you!
Storytelling is such a beautiful framing and outlet for therapists! Glad to know you are working on this, Tamara. Here is a story of one of the best storytellers I ever met. Perhaps you'll enjoy it too: ua-cam.com/video/wwXgFLCah3M/v-deo.html
Go timing on the video for me two. I’m a HR Manager and I was looking for a memorable way to end my New Hire Orientation…I’m going to use the “write a letter” to yourself. I’m going to have them write a letter 90 days from hire.
I like the TEA too. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Fantastic! 👍👍 The letter to self is very fun/useful. There is a digital version freely available at futureme.org too!
Content is fire as usual. My condolonces on the passing of your partner. What a great way to honor him.
🙏
Thanks Chad - love the Don't Clap Connect - how do I use it online Zoom session please?
You could send people to www.wonder.me or a platform like that which would allow people to free roam. I also like ending a session sometimes actually IN a breakout. I prompt people as to what we'll do in breakouts, then I send people off letting them know that they can remain in there for as little or as long as they would like 👍👍 There are two quick, simple ways delivered via UA-cam comment haha.
Mr. DeMello!!!! Joe did the same thing. :>}
You talk a lot about intention, Chad. And you live it out. Even the best of us, however, can lose clarity on our intention when we present to a group. We all have real, complex lives outside of a presentation, and so some of that can easily leak in, stealing our focus. As examples, I've gone into presentations physically sick, or having gotten only three hours of sleep... even having lost a loved one within a day of presenting. Whatever the reasons-and many of them are completely human and understandable-when the focus shifts to "me" instead of "we," I've noticed that endings more often lack focus or power.
The trick then becomes having a workable "ritual" for asking myself about my focus and intention, acknowledging where it may have shifted inward, and resetting it before presenting.
If we're able to set our intention to "we" (or even "they"), I find it helps alleviate pressure that can get us off track in presenting, with the most notable derailing happening when we run out of time. It's also energizing to have an intention and purpose outside of "getting through what I think I need to present within the time frame." The fact is that whether the presentation is to a firm of serious accountants or to a classroom of third graders, our "intention people" don't usually know exactly what we had PLANNED to say or present. If we build rapport (which is easy when our intention is set outward), they usually just trust that we know what we're doing and have their best interest in mind. And that gives us freedom to divert from course when needed-shorten this point, cut that one.
All of this is to say, if we can set our intention to having attendees feel connected, valued, energized and experiencing forward momentum, your suggestions and a host of others work naturally, because such a conclusion matches our intention.
AND... it's OK to not have perfect endings every time. Even if my intentions were well set (or reset), things happen. Bodies and minds have limitations. Still, with the right intention, I've found that while I myself may have wished for "the perfect ending" and not achieved it, what people experienced may be a lot more positive than we think. People just sort of know when you're for them and with them rather than just getting through a talk. And that goes a long way.
100% who you are BEING with a group sticks far more than what you are DOING around them. I'm sure there are exceptions, haha, but for the most part, actions speak louder than words, but authenticity and an other-centered intent speaks louder than action.
10 Years ago...the TEDX talk...your hair! Wow!
Hahaha! I know...things have gotten serious! 🤣