The Most Engaged Person in the Room

Published: December 31, 2015

Classroom teachers can spot them in an instant. The most engaged person in the room sends off energy that elevates the entire group. Beyond standard eye contact and nods of understanding, this teammate absorbs his or her environment. Connections are forged physically, emotionally, and intellectually. What might you do if you wanted to deliver engagement at this level?

Listen as if it was your first day on the earth and everything was fresh.

Wonder as if all past assumption were erased and the slate was clean for new perspectives.

Synthesize as if every element of your ecosystem had value and was connected.

Give as if you knew how your teammates most wanted to receive.

Contribute as if you could leave the room in better shape than when you entered.

Thank as if communication of appreciation made your team stronger.

Celebrate as if the moment was a chance for a new beginning.

Happy New Year from the Team Clock Institute!

Photo of Steve Ritter, the co-founder of The Center for Team Excellence

Steve Ritter

Steve Ritter is an internationally recognized expert on team dynamics whose clients include Fortune 500 companies, professional sports teams, and many educational organizations. He is on the faculty of the Center for Professional Excellence at Elmhurst University where he earned the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching. Steve is the former Senior Vice President, Director of Human Resources at Leaders Bank, named the #1 Best Place to Work in Illinois in 2006 and winner of the American Psychological Association's Psychologically Healthy Workplace Award in 2010. Steve provides ongoing workplace culture consultation to many thriving companies including Kraft Foods, Advocate Health Care, Kellogg's, the Chicago White Sox, AthletiCo, and Northwestern Mutual Financial Network.