#3 Be a believer

We're now getting into area of "Empowerment" which was first introduced in 1080's and became a bit of a management buzzword. However, I believe that it's one of most promising but least understood concepts in management today. I'm a fairly down to earth practical sort of person (probably comes from my engineering background). I'm not big into management theories unless I can see benefits for me - I see a great deal of benefit for managers and team leaders in Empowerment. Empowerment is about utilising knowledge, skill, experience and motivational power that's already within your people. The majority of people in teams and organisations throughout world are severely underutilised. Your team have probably more to offer in terms of skill, knowledge and experience and if you utilize that, you will achieve your business goals and you'll motivate them.

=========================================================== Discover how you can generate more business by motivating your team! Alan Fairweather is author of "How to get More Sales by Motivating Your Team" This book is packed with practical things you can do to get best out of your people . Click here now http://www.howtogetmoresales.com/Motivating%20Your%20Team.h tm ==========================================================

**Attn Ezine editors/Site owners** Feel free to reprint this article in its entirety in your ezine or on your site so long as you leave all links in place, do not modify content and include our resource box as listed above. If you need additional articles, check out my article archive for fresh, new content you can use on your website or in your ezine - FREE http://www.howtogetmoresales.com/Free%20stuff.htm ============================================================

6. Engage Participants Johnny would continue flow of conversation with his guests by asking follow-up questions or summarize what they said.

Ask additional questions to draw out important information with your meeting participants. Say following:

Tell me more about… That’s an interesting viewpoint, please explain further… If I understand what you are saying…

If there are participants that are quiet, make it safe for them to give feedback or suggestions. Say following:

“Mike, we would really like to hear your ideas on… “Jane, you look like you really want to add something important to discussion, please tell us.”

Once they make their comments say, “Thanks for your valuable comments. I look forward to you contributing more insights in future.”

7. Make Meeting Participants Stars Johnny Carson had a way of letting his guests, whether they were infamous or famous, be celebrities on Tonight Show. He allowed them to tell their jokes and witty stories, as well as complimented them, so that stars were and ultimately show was successful.

You can do same for your staff in meetings. You could dominate meeting and develop all ideas yourself. You wouldn’t accomplish much because meeting participants would have no sense of ownership and would be slow to initiate your ideas. Or you can encourage participants to contribute ideas so that they take ownership of ideas and take responsibility for implementing their ideas. Also, acknowledge and reward these “solution creators” in front of group.

Let them shine!

8. End Meeting Right Way While excusing his guests, Johnny would sincerely thank them for coming on show and compliment them on their contributions. The guests left with a good feeling and always wanted to come back again and again.

Make sure you thank meeting participants for their time and contributions. Let them know how they made a difference in meeting. If there were solutions created in meeting, communicate what is clear course of action to accomplishing those solutions. Express your confidence that you know that these solutions will be achieved.

9. Follow-up, Follow-up, Follow-up Johnny Carson would talk about how great a show was because of a guest. This was another way to make guests on his show feel special.

Send an e-mail to all relevant employees, whether they were in meeting or not, explaining what was covered in meeting, what was decided on in meeting, and what course of action we are taking.

Also again, acknowledge key people in meeting for their contributions.

Follow these nine techniques used by master of late night and your meetings will be outstanding.