As I sat in the meeting, things instantly spun out of control. I heard the voices get loud. My client was yelling for what seemed like frustration as his staff tried to ignore what he was trying to find out. I listen for five seconds before standing up and taking over the moment by interrupting everyone and proposing a solution for the problem. It wasn’t necessarily the right solution but the interruption was the right solution.
Sometimes when you see a situation devolve, what’s necessary is that someone stepped into the middle of it and interrupt what’s going on, focusing everyone’s attention on them.
Offering an idea for them to hack up a bring everyone back together.
But the question is, “how did we get there is necessary for this intervention to occur?”
On this occasion, it was day three of a four day sales meeting, late in the afternoon, people getting tired and bored. The current presentation wasn’t working (at least for me and, I suspect for others) when, suddenly, chaos broke loose in the room.
You lose your power and your authority whenever something like this happens. He was fortunate that senior leadership wasn’t present and that I was. That may never be your circumstance.
Remember, what’s important in every situation you step into and what you trying to accomplish? Will yelling accomplish that purpose?
Rarely.
Ⓒ The Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2019
ABOUT JEFF ALTMAN, THE BIG GAME HUNTER
Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter is a career and leadership coach who worked as a recruiter for more than 40 years. He is the host of “No BS Job Search Advice Radio,” the #1 podcast in iTunes for job search with more than 1500 episodes and his newest show, “No BS Coaching Advice” and is a member of The Forbes Coaches Council.
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