{"id":36974,"date":"2020-07-10T15:48:27","date_gmt":"2020-07-10T22:48:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/?p=36974"},"modified":"2020-07-11T16:29:09","modified_gmt":"2020-07-11T23:29:09","slug":"two-unexpected-ways-to-earn-the-attention-of-your-distracted-team","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/gov-talk\/about-gov\/education\/two-unexpected-ways-to-earn-the-attention-of-your-distracted-team\/","title":{"rendered":"Two Unexpected Ways to Earn the Attention of Your Distracted Team"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”4.4.6″ background_image=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/distracted1-scaled.jpg” custom_padding_tablet=”50px|0|50px|0″ custom_padding_phone=”” padding_mobile=”off”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider show_divider=”off” disabled_on=”on|on|off” _builder_version=”3.23.4″ height=”200px”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.6″ text_font=”PT Sans||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”72″ text_line_height=”1.1em” header_font=”||||||||” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”800px” custom_margin=”0px||3px|” custom_padding=”||0px|||” text_font_size_tablet=”52″ text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet”]Two Unexpected Ways to Earn the Attention of Your Distracted Team<\/b>
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ custom_padding_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_padding=”25.3125px|0px|0|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”50px|0|50px|0″ custom_padding_phone=””][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_3,2_3″ column_padding_mobile=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”1200px” custom_padding=”20px||0px|” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” custom_padding_phone=”” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1200px”][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/06\/Picture1.png” title_text=”Picture1″ show_bottom_space=”off” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”4.4.6″ animation=”off” sticky=”on”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”4.4.6″ text_font=”PT Sans|on|||” text_text_color=”#02b875″ text_font_size=”20″ text_line_height=”1.2em” header_text_color=”#000000″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”140px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20px||0px|”]SEAN GLAZE<\/span><\/a>
\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text disabled_on=”on|on|” _builder_version=”4.4.6″ text_font=”PT Serif||on||” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_font_size=”16″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” max_width=”140px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”10px||60px|”]Sean inspires people to have fun laughing together so they can have more success working together.\u00a0 \u00a0His three books, The Unexpected Leader, Rapid Teamwork, and The 10 Commandments of Winning Teammates are powerful parables for building and leading great teams!
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.6″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_font_size=”24″ text_line_height=”1.5em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”720px” custom_margin=”0px||0px|” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\n

You see it every day\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

Teammates get distracted constantly by the barrage of noise around them \u2013 and that means they do not pay as much attention to YOUR emails, conversations, texts, or smoke signals\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

It isn\u2019t just millennials on your team who are distracted anymore.\u00a0 It\u2019s truly everyone.<\/span><\/p>\n

Yeah \u2013 even the old guy who has his treasured 8-track collection in his office bookshelf ; )<\/span><\/p>\n

And when your teammates get distracted, your productivity and results ultimately suffer.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, if you want to get and keep their attention you NEED to take note of these 2 unexpected suggestions to improve your impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead of yelling or getting frustrated or cursing the new reality of constant bells, beeps, social media updates, emails, calls, or music \u2013 choose to\u00a0<\/span>take action on one or both of these ways to earn their attention!<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1.\u00a0 Ask QUESTIONS instead of telling them stuff!<\/b><\/h4>\n

Questions are engaging.<\/span><\/p>\n

My friend Bob Teide shares a great deal about this on his blog,\u00a0<\/span>Leading With Questions<\/span><\/a>\u00a0– and he has been incredibly successful in sharing the impact and influence of questions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Like Bob, Will Wise and Chad Little field also emphasize the influence you can have when you shift your focus from telling to asking in their book, \u201c<\/span>Ask Powerful Questions<\/span><\/a>.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

And Socrates made the use of questions pretty famous and used them to make people think rather than telling them what to think (yes, he was eventually sentenced to death by hemlock, but your questions will probably not result in quite so negative a response).<\/span><\/p>\n

The problem is that as teammates or team leaders we often take the easy road of TELLING rather than of turning those statements around to invite ENGAGING CONVERSATIONS.<\/span><\/p>\n

This happened to me as a coach when I had 1-1 meetings early in my career.<\/span><\/p>\n

I would say everything and they would sit \u2013 and there was very little actual dialogue\u2026 so the players I was talking at felt misunderstood or underappreciated.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t let that happen to YOU!<\/span><\/p>\n

Turn your statements into QUESTIONS.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make your meetings and conversations a game.\u00a0 Whoever talks the most loses (and you want to WIN with questions!)<\/span><\/p>\n

Before you meet with your people in your weekly or monthly 1-1 sessions, take the time to turn your talking points into questions \u2013\u00a0<\/span>ASSC for their ideas and perspective<\/span>!<\/span><\/p>\n

Yes \u2013\u00a0<\/span>ASSC<\/b>\u00a0is spelled correctly \u2013 it is an acronym!<\/span><\/p>\n

ALWAYS STAY SINCERELY CURIOUS<\/b><\/p>\n

That is what leads to the best questions!<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ background_color=”#f7f7f4″ min_height=”53px” custom_padding=”0||0||false|false”][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”1″ make_equal=”on” column_padding_mobile=”on” module_class=” et_pb_row_fullwidth” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” width=”100%” width_tablet=”100%” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|desktop” max_width=”100%” max_width_tablet=”100%” max_width_phone=”” max_width_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0px||0px|” make_fullwidth=”on” custom_width_px=”680px”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/distracted2-scaled.jpg” alt=”video presentation” title_text=”distracted2″ show_bottom_space=”off” force_fullwidth=”on” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.4.6″ animation=”off”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ background_color=”#efefe9″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.careersingovernment.com\/tools\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/07\/distracted3.png” title_text=”distracted3″ show_bottom_space=”off” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” _builder_version=”4.4.6″ animation=”off”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text disabled_on=”off|off|” _builder_version=”4.4.6″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_text_color=”#818178″ text_font_size=”24″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20%|10%||10%” custom_margin_tablet=”|10%||10%” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone”]Groups are people who work in close proximity.\u00a0Teams are people who work with a shared mission.
\n[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.6″ text_font=”PT Sans|on|||” text_text_color=”#888888″ text_font_size=”12″ text_letter_spacing=”2px” text_line_height=”1.2em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” text_orientation=”center” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”20px||20%|” custom_margin_tablet=”20px||3.1%|||” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet”]SEAN GLAZE
\n[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row use_custom_gutter=”on” gutter_width=”4″ column_padding_mobile=”on” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|tablet” admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”1200px” custom_padding=”0||0px||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”0px|||” custom_padding_phone=”” use_custom_width=”on” custom_width_px=”1200px”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.6″ text_font=”PT Serif||||” text_text_color=”#363636″ text_font_size=”20″ text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_margin=”-23px||0px|||” custom_margin_tablet=”40px||0px|” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” custom_padding=”0px|||||” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|tablet”]<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0 Make WE the clear focus of your message!<\/b><\/h4>\n

You\u2019ve likely heard it before, but the most popular radio station in the world would be WIFM \u2013 because your people always want to know \u201cWhat\u2019s in it for ME?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But YOU and ME still separated people from the compelling common goal and the sense of camaraderie that GREAT Teams enjoy sharing as part of their identity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Put yourself in the other person\u2019s position.\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Ask yourself, what is important to them?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

It sounds great \u2013 and truly DOES WORK.\u00a0 This will make you seem more interesting and the people you speak with will be glad to have gotten the attention.<\/span><\/p>\n

But it doesn\u2019t work so well for BUILDING TEAMWORK.<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead of asking for what is important to them individually, find ways to CONNECT them to the TEAM dynamic and weave your conversations and emails and meetings into opportunities to build a SHARED sense of PURPOSE.<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t ask them Ask for \u201cadvice,\u201d people see themselves as partners. And advice versus feedback significantly increases both the\u00a0<\/span>amount and quality of responses<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Watch your pronouns.\u00a0 First, don\u2019t use the words ME or I (those are deadly and narcissistic and often lead to adopting cats so your one-room apartment doesn\u2019t feel so lonely).<\/span><\/p>\n

And don\u2019t overly use the words YOU or YOUR (those direct the spotlight at another individual and proved a false feeling of isolation and separateness).<\/span><\/p>\n

Instead, find ways to use the words US and WE and OUR\u2026 like this:<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHi Leslie!\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

WE have been working together for a few months now and I love how OUR strengths compliment each other.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

SINCE WE ARE BOTH going to be impacted by the results this project, I wondered if you had any ideas about how WE could take care of the issue of ______ that is keeping US from getting it done?\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Even though it may be a cheesy and simple example, it does do the job of illustrating the need to make your comments INCLUSIVE so you build a TEAM IDENTITY instead of allowing people to feel disconnected even when they work near each other.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want to earn the attention of your distracted team, you need to\u00a0<\/span>connect them to a compelling common goal\u00a0<\/b>and you need to engage them by asking for their ideas and perspectives so they feel like part of the solution moving forward.<\/span><\/p>\n

Groups are people who work in close proximity.<\/b><\/p>\n

Teams are people who work with a shared mission.<\/b><\/p>\n

Whether it is through your own individual efforts or through the impact of scheduling of a\u00a0<\/span>business teambuilding event<\/span><\/a>, GREAT teams are a symptom of great team leaders who keep their people focused and positive and passionate about working as a TEAM.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you will use these two unexpected ideas for getting their attention, you will be amazed at how much more productive and connected your people will become!<\/span><\/p>\n

As I have shared with many audiences and leaders at my events, “<\/span>ENGAGEMENT is the amount that your people care about the RESULTS they are contributing to create<\/span><\/i>.”<\/span><\/p>\n

LEADERSHIP begins with clarifying WHY everyone is there and what the compelling common goal is that everyone is working toward. \u00a0When people don’t have a goal to focus on (or to refocus on), it becomes more likely that their attention will be distracted by whatever other shiny object is available.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you want to ensure that your people KNOW THEIR WHY – in addition to the other elements that make up the FIVE essential ingredients of leading a team – consider investing in the\u00a0<\/span>Rapid Teamwork Masterclass on Building Team Culture.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

It is a comprehensive step-by-step system of video lessons and activities for team leaders to implement in order to build a more positive and productive, team culture!<\/span><\/p>\n

Take a step to improve your team \u2013 maximize the positive impact you have on their attention (and EFFORTS!) and learn how to \u201c<\/span>fix your broken team culture<\/b>\u201d <\/span>here<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0(Yes, it\u2019s completely free)<\/span><\/p>\n

 
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