Leadership Nuggets: Leading meetings effectively.

Dear leader,

How many meetings have your been to that when it finishes you wonder what exactly was the outcome of it because the meeting did not have a focus ,got side-tracked or lacked leadership and you sit through it thinking of many other things you could be spending your time one?

Recently, I was at a leadership meeting, we came in with a clear objective but by the end of the meeting, I felt that we had gone round and round in circles, dribbling left, right and center like David Beckham. After the meeting you wonder what we have achieved in the hour.  Well, at least we kept to time; only because there was another meeting to attend, thank goodness

Leaders spend more than half of their time in meetings; to discuss strategies, develop budgets, review expenditure, explore opportunities, plan, make decisions and conduct an important business process of managing teams The ability to lead these meetings and ensure clear outcomes is a skill. A leaders’ time is precious. Intact, one way you can have an influence with your leader is when you enable them to maximise their time effectively. As a leader how does your team feel after a meeting?

 "I feel like I'm part of history being made. I leave Apple board meetings thinking, 'I've got to do a better job.' Andrea Jung

 

Some principles of effective meetings are;

ü  Hold meetings only when it is necessary not to mark a management register

ü  Have clear objectives

ü  Communicate reading document in advance

ü  Invite the right people to the meeting; everyone in the room should be there for a reason

ü  If you are invited to a meeting, confirm your role and value-add to the meeting, if none don't bother going it would be a waste of time.

ü  Meeting is not a seminar, keep the number small.

ü  Have decision makers in the room; avoids confusing messages and delay in decision making.

ü  Have someone to chair the meeting.

ü  Set an agenda; be clear about what to be discussed and the outcome expected.

ü  Prepare for meetings, gives you confidence to engage effectively

ü  Keep to time

ü  Go straight to the point.

ü  Document all decisions and action points

ü  Plan to follow up decisions agreed

Buy and read the book #"Will there be Donuts? Start a business revolution one meeting at a time by David Pearl#

Make a difference at the next meeting you are leading. You are the salt of the earth!

Have an awesome week.