Productivity is more than managing time. True productivity is the combination of how you mange your time, focus your attention and manage your energy. The most productive people I know do less, not more (yes you read that right). They do more of the things that energize them.
Keeping the attention of others on a daily basis can be a challenge so recently we interviewed people we admire to ask the secrets to how they effectively engage people.
One of the successful leaders we interviewed was Marcello Pedalino. He believes in celebrating life and enjoying the journey though this world as much as possible; to work hard and play hard is his motto.
From the first moment you meet him you are aware of his undivided attention, genuine smile and exceptional conversational skills. I was fortunate to be part of an invitation-only retreat for the countries top entertainers where I met of the most fascinating people. This group of award winning entertainers considers it their calling to provide experiences for people that they will treasure for a lifetime.
When asking how Marcello engages people he shared ‘by smiling and being as polite as possible’. This seems obvious right… then why don’t more leaders do this? He continued to share if the
situation demands more than just ‘good manners and genuine eye contact’; the next strategy is to gain control of the surroundings that directly affect people’s sensory system.
He shared when his company provides the entertainment, production and hospitality for an event, they make sure guests are comfortable throughout the celebration. Guests who are comfortable are in a good mood… if they are in a good mood, they are happy. Happy people are extremely receptive to taking verbal direction, getting involved and following your lead.
Smell, hearing, sight, and temperature are all essential elements of comfort. When people smell tantalizing aromas, listen to the perfect song at the right volume, look at a well-groomed performer or event host in a beautifully decorated space, and their body temperature is like goldilocks’ porridge, they are extremely receptive to engagement from an effective conversationalist … especially one who knows how to adjust oratory delivery accordingly based on the demographic and personalities in the room.
It made me wonder, as leaders, how could we create more comfortable environments for our team to ensure they are fully engaged in the everyday business?
What could you do to engage your team more and accelerate their productivity?
What do you need to do to make your environment more comfortable and productive?
What could you do to focus more of your attention on people you care about when you are at home?
We don’t have time to do everything; we only have time to do what matters. Invest time today engaging with someone who matters to you.
We’d love to hear how you create environments to engage others, please share them here on our blog.
G’Day Neen!
Thank you very much for including me in your latest article!
A group of us were out for a nice dinner in Vegas and played the “phone stack” game. When we sat down, we all stacked our phones on top each other in the middle of the table. If anybody’s phone rang, buzzed or pinged, we weren’t allowed to pick it up. This forced everyone into focusing their attention on the present company and conversation. How do you win? By simply being polite and enjoying your meal with friends. How do you lose? By giving into the dark side of the force and picking up your phone because you think you’re sooooo important that the message, update or e-mail can’t wait. * The loser also has to “pick up” the check for the table. 🙂
I love this game – what a terrific idea! It seems many have made technology more important than people, other’s prefer to check their messages than check in with their friends. I love the consequences of this game and think it could be a great ‘rule’ when people get together – thanks for sharing.