FIVE MINUTES

Five minutes was the time accorded for some of the meetings with Hilary Clinton in Lusaka last week?

I wondered how these meetings were articulated.

So much can be said in 5 minutes if we get to the point.

Whether we are in a queue or in a lift or between business meetings and even at the traffic lights we have even less than 5 minutes to say something meaningful. How much do we say each day that is of no real value is a question that I asked myself?

For business people, the few minutes of opportunity, an “elevator speech or pitch” is when you have less than 5 minutes to say who you are and what you do. Even less time to work out who to talk to and how to engage them.

People fascinate me and I love to guess what their line of business is and it is exciting to meet someone to do business with. Sales people, relationship managers, business managers must have or develop and increase their conversation skills.

When you are seated next to someone at a function do you try to learn more about them or do you sit like I quote, “a dead duck?” For me the worst is going to functions and sitting at a table of ten. It is not common for people to introduce themselves and chat and there isn’t a flow of conversation. Thanks to my blackberry I keep myself entertained.

When you meet your boss or managers at a function or at a social gathering it is important to know how to relate to them. It goes back to the 5 minute rule. Don’t waffle and talk about nothing. Ask questions that create conversation in something that they are interested in. Don’t talk about yourself. Don’t give away personal information. The same goes when you meet a work colleagues spouse or partner at a function, be polite and if conversation is required then think about things that would interest them to talk about. If in doubt don’t babble away. Read the non verbal behaviour and if the person is busy then move away.

Developing an interest in what is going on around you means ensuring that you are well read. Know what is happening in the local news, what the copper price is, the oil price and exchange rates. We meet visitors to the country often and we need to know the size of the population in Zambia and the tourist attractions.

Five minutes can make a difference in our lives. If we focus on the first five minutes of every hour to evaluate what we have just been doing and what we are doing nex,t that would be a great start to time management. Try it. Take 5 minutes for reflection in the morning and evening and ask yourself what you did well and what you could have done better. Making these adjustments daily is what builds our character and helps us to value ourselves.

A lack of self esteem and confidence is a common denominator in some of the trainings that I conduct. Individuals need to build up their level of confidence and being able to interact with other people is a common social and business requirement. The ways to do this is to ensure that work skills are developed and that one becomes competent at them. Know your products back to front, and the actual skills required performing your job. Work on how to greet, meet and interact with customers. Ask relevant questions, make eye contact, and focus on the person that you are talking to. Those people that have charisma or personality and what we sometimes say an aura about them are conscious, that the impact that they make on people, is centred on how we make them feel.

Take 5 minutes to prepare before a meeting and to understand the business and person that you are visiting or meeting. If you feel nervous take time to “breathe” deeply. If you have just walked up the stairs and need to catch your breath, stop and take those few minutes.

When you meet a celebrity or politician or the top boss what question or comment do you have for them. What should you say, how should you say it for that matter. Be interesting, people get bored with the usual gushing – be natural. Be appropriate and timing is important. When you are seated next to someone at a luncheon, or even on a bus or aeroplane if conversation is relevant, see what you can learn from the discussion. Ask questions or respond in a way that puts your best forward for your job, your country and yourself.

With the amount of information overload in our business and social world it is refreshing to be able to have meaningful conversations. That’s how we network, socialise, do business and meet people.

At the dinner table with your family, ask your children ,to tell you within five minutes each, who they met and what they said and the other person said: coach them on how to perfect interaction by asking questions that matter. Have 5 minute sales briefs - each person has to stick to the 5 minutes. What a relief to get to the point and cut out the unnecessary.

How can 5 minutes work for you this week in your communications? Try it just for fun.

Email: ideas@carolwhiteconsultancy.com

Carol runs a training and consultancy business in Zambia and her new tv programme debuts on ZNBC mid July 2011, “Conversations with Carol.” Segments are: Business makeovers, Careers, Reading, Human Trafficking and Doctrines.
Mission is: Conversations are an emporium of self discovery.