The group's task is to focus on one or more of the things that the person enjoys doing. The goal is for them to return to the big group with a poster which outlines the things the person can do to earn money doing what he enjoys. The group members can brainstorm, act as consultants, advisers, marketers or play any other role which helps them to achieve the goal.
Each group presents back two posters to the big group, one headed 'What the person enjoys doing', the other 'How the person can earn money doing some of these things'.
How can you encourage a person? Imagine somebody at work has asked for a meeting to discuss his or her future. You can take the following steps towards creating a positive climate during the meeting:
Welcome the person. Get 'the first ten seconds' right. Make eye contact with them. Greet them in the appropriate manner. Arrange the seating in a way which will help you to communicate. Give your total attention to the person. Get the 'social part' right before moving on to the main topic of the meeting. Offer the person coffee or do other things to help them to feel at ease.
Agree on the goals for the meeting. Say what you see as the goals for the meeting. Ask what the person wants to get from the meeting . Make a 'clear contract' about the goals and length of the meeting.
Encourage the person to talk about themselves. Invite them to talk about the first subject on their agenda. Make sure you understand the person's picture of the world. Listen for the 'headline' in what they are saying. Ask yourself: 'How have I shown the person that I understood what they said?'
Check out your understanding of what they mean by asking: 'Are you saying that ....?' Look for the person responding by nodding or saying 'Yes'.
Encourage the person to set specific goals. Encourage them to take responsibility for shaping their future: to say 'I ....' and to focus on what they can do, rather than talk about what they can't do.
Encourage them to use the three key words for being creative: 'What? How? When?' Ask them: 'What do you want to do? How can you do it? When do you want to begin?'
Encourage them to make specific action plans for reaching their goals. Make sure they build in some early guaranteed successes.
If appropriate, move on to exploring their strengths and areas for improvement.
Encourage the person to build on their strengths. Encourage them to develop their talents. Ask them: 'What do you see as your strengths? What do you do well? What are three things you have achieved during the last three months? How do you want to build on your strengths? When do you want to try?'
Give examples of when you have seen them 'come alive'. Say what you saw them doing right then, and encourage them to follow these paths again in the future.
Encourage the person to tackle any areas for improvement. If appropriate, ask the person: 'What do you think you can do even better in the future? How can you do this? When do you want to try?' Encourage them to set specific goals for building on their strengths and tackling any areas for improvement.
Finish the meeting in a positive way. Complete all the items on the agenda. Check they have covered everything they wanted to discuss and that they feel finished. If not, arrange another time to meet. Summarise any actions to be taken. Get the last ten seconds right and finish the meeting in a positive way.
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