
Benjamin
๐ ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐: ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฟ๐๐ด๐ด๐น๐ฒ
Updated: Mar 11

โ๐๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐๐จ ๐๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ค๐ฃ๐๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ฉ ๐ค๐ง๐๐๐ฃ๐๐ฏ๐๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ. ๐๐ค๐ง ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐๐ง ๐ข๐๐๐ฉ๐จ ๐ค๐ง ๐ค๐ฃ๐ ๐ฌ๐ค๐ง๐ ๐จ.โ โ Peter Drucker
For many people, meetings top the list of things they hate about work. The words โwaste of timeโ and โmeetingโ often sandwich together easier than a PB & J.
A growing company needs to install systems and processes to scale* and relies on group meetings to efficiently convey information.
While an unproductive meeting can be wasteful and deflating, when productive, meetings can be incredibly powerful. By brainstorming ideas, you encourage innovation** and collaboration. Exploring options and solving problems can be valuable and motivating.
๐๐ผ ๐ช๐ฒ ๐ก๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ผ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐?
Whether you do this every time or review on a quarterly basis, question whether you really need to bring a bunch of people together in a room.
There are a variety of meeting types, from company-wide updates, brainstorming sessions, team meetings, and training sessions.
However, sometimes a meeting is not needed. For instance, holding meetings for accountability may not be optimal. Instead, utilize a shared resource to measure progress and ask questions as needed. To check on individual progress, career development, and mental health, utilize 1:1s instead of group meetings.
While it may be expedient for a manager to ask everyone at once how things are going, this is highly wasteful for everyone else.
๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ธ ๐๐ผ ๐ช๐ผ๐ฟ๐ธ
Meetings can be incredibly useful, but not if they dominate contributors' time. Other ways to spend less time in meetings:
ยท Schedule them for 30 or 45 minutes instead of an hour. This will encourage everyone to cover topics quickly.
ยท Block a period of time weekly when no one has meetings. The team will really appreciate the time for deep work.
ยท If youโre not presenting but need to know what was shared, watch recordings of the meeting in high speed.
Meetings are not always necessary for productivity. Determine if there are other ways which yield the same results while saving people time.
๐ ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ณ๐ณ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ ๐ ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐
A leader who values others' time sends the message that they believe in both business growth and personal respect.
Attendees should participate fully. Here's how to set expectations.
๐ฝ๐๐๐๐๐
ยท Be clear on the purpose for getting together
ยท Decide who will facilitate discussion (not always the top leader)
ยท Send an agenda and any information 1-2 days before (e.g. deck)
ยท Limit it to an hour if possible, and ideally, 30 or 45 minutes (we will often fill the time allotted one way or another)
ยท Charge every attendee with adding something e.g. for introverts, encourage them to send ideas beforehand (and recommendations after)
๐ฟ๐๐๐๐๐
ยท Begin by stating your purpose and what you hope to accomplish
ยท Start and finish on time to encourage full engagement and trust
ยท As facilitator, keep the discussion moving without being directive
โ๐๐ค๐ช๐ง ๐๐ค๐ ๐๐จ ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐๐๐ง ๐๐จ ๐ฉ๐ค ๐๐ ๐ง๐๐๐๐ฉ ๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ฃ๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ข๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐, ๐ฃ๐ค๐ฉ ๐๐ฉ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ฃ๐ฃ๐๐ฃ๐.โ โ David M. Cote
ยท If itโs a recurring meeting, consider allowing different teammates to share one positive and one negative story each week
ยท Designate someone to own timing (and be nice, since it's a tough role)
ยท Ask someone to take notes and share afterwards (you may rotate)
ยท Create a little conflict. Make sure every major decision has some conscious dissent. Consider making one person play โdevilโs advocateโ
ยท If the tension rises too high, however, re-frame the discussion around solving problems and change the topic if it becomes unproductive
ยท For unsolved issues, form a smaller task force (usually, the ones most impacted) to wrestle with the issue and report progress next meeting
ยท Clarify next steps, assigning an owner and a deadline for an update
๐ผ๐๐๐๐
ยท Every attendee should add value, and if someone did not, then decide whether they need to contribute more next time or not join again
ยท Acknowledge attendees who really contributed to the discussion
ยท Check with attendees on how to improve (e.g. โwhatโs one way the meeting could have been better?โ)
ยท Share notes and seek any clarifications or new thoughts
ยท If there are follow-up items, check on them when needed and send updates - ๐ข๐ช๐๐ ๐ค๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ซ๐๐ก๐ช๐ ๐๐ค๐ข๐๐จ ๐๐ฃ ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐๐ช๐ฉ๐๐ค๐ฃ ๐๐๐ฉ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐๐ง๐๐จ
ยท On a quarterly basis, block time to review all your meetings and respectfully challenge the purpose of every single one
๐๐ผ๐ป๐๐: If you find that your meetings are running stale, consider changing one aspect. You may introduce humor or stories, encourage guest speakers from other teams, present more visuals and video clips, or ask attendees to take turns sharing information and even facilitating. A small changeup can make a big difference.
Meaningful meetings can reinforce productive collaboration, encourage innovation, and solve major problems. Use them as a catalyst for growth.
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* Systems and Processes: www.webuildscalegrow.com/post/9eb1a420
** Innovation: www.webuildscalegrow.com/post/89cd9be1