Ep. #9 - No more chit chat

The Art of Change-Out Meetings' podcast. Say goodbye to chit-chat and hello to efficient communication. Learn how to define your team, keep meetings focused, and create a distraction-free environment. Discover the secrets to successful change-out meetings and share your own experiences with us. 

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Transcript

Stop the chit-chat; it's time to shift gears. We've all been there - conversations about fishing, hunting, or the latest joke making the rounds. It's what adds character to our team, but what's the real deal here? It's all about communication.

When the clock strikes 15 minutes before the hour, it's our cue to make room for valuable discussions. Conversations that could impact the upcoming hours of our shift. Insights that might make our day or night smoother because someone else has been down that road before.

Change-out meetings are for your team, but who exactly does that include? It's crucial to define your team and understand who's been working in your area, making changes. At the very least, folks should swing by at the end of the day to let you know if they've got something to share or not. And what about contractors? Should they be wrapping up while our change-out meeting is happening? It's a topic worth exploring.

Anyone who contributes value should be part of the discussion. We should dissect what we've accomplished, what we've observed, and what might be on the horizon - safety concerns, lockout/tagout procedures, ongoing projects, and what could set up the day crew for success tomorrow.

The length of a change-out meeting should be flexible, much like managing a fire. Keep it contained. Attend the meeting with the intention to add value, and if you find yourself drifting away, let the clock run out. Depending on the complexity of the tasks and the volume of activity, change-out meetings can be as short as 15 minutes or stretch to an hour if there are critical tasks to cover. Go with the flow, but stay on topic.

There is a fine line between kicking off the meeting and hold off on starting until everyone's present. The goal is to involve and inform everyone. Change-out discussions can veer into different areas, and while it may not be immediately relevant to your role, it could become pertinent later in the day.

Change-out meetings should be in a distraction-free location. This isn't the time for the background noise of a football game. Find a quiet spot where everyone can hear and ideally fit comfortably.

No more 'drive-by' change-outs. You know the scenario - you're cruising at 55 mph, and there goes the other crew, a wave and a "see ya later" as they whiz by. It doesn't cut it.

On-location meetings can be beneficial when you need to walk through a complex situation. It's easier to grasp the lay of the land when you're physically present. Showing up on location might also give you a chance to ask questions before your relief departs. Why are they doing things a certain way? There's no need to struggle to do things differently if they've already given it a shot.

Now, it's your turn. How do you manage your change-out meetings? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!

Want to make your change-out meetings as smooth as a well-oiled machine? Share this blog with your crew and let's keep the industry running like clockwork. ⏰🤝 

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