Talk Ain't Cheap

           For companies that pay attention to it, the condition of morale is an essential part of determining if the company’s environment is healthy and poised for growth.   When morale is high, people are ready to come to work and be productive.   Alternatively, when morale is low, people (mostly) come in, and they perform the minimum until they can escape at the end of the day.      In a low morale environment, it’s easy to find a lethargic, stagnant staff largely going through the motions but not inspired to color outside the lines.   The resentment felt throughout the office is as heavy as a winter coat weighed down by a cold, rainy day.   So why do these dismal, drab feelings occur?   What is causing morale to suffer near the bottom of the pile of office ailments?      No doubt there are a plethora of reasons, but we’ll try to narrow them down to the top ten. ...

     As a facilitator and trainer, I realize that both lend themselves to less skilled people turning each role into a college classroom for bored teens just trying to get through to the next class.  Facilitating requires that the facilitator guide discussion, control the environment where the discussion takes place, and generally move the discourse along.  A good facilitator is almost invisible in the room.  They take charge and step in and out of the discussion at the right times.  They step in to ask questions that open the floor up to the participants' opinions and learning.  They make sure the entire meeting runs on time and no one bogs down the flow.  They step out when appropriate to direct the attention to the people who matter in the discourse.  They shut down the talkers, command respect for the speakers and themselves, and they bring their own personal style or touch (professionalism, humor).      A t...