Thoroughly Thoroughly Re-think Your Re-think Your Approach to Approach to MeetingsMeetings!!

Bitch all you Bitch all you want, but want, but meetinmeetinggss

are what you are what you [boss] do![boss] do!

Bosses above “hands on” shift supervisors Bosses above “hands on” shift supervisors may well spend the majority of their time in may well spend the majority of their time in meetings. Meetings, for one and all, meetings. Meetings, for one and all, participant or leader, maybe the #1 topic of participant or leader, maybe the #1 topic of bitching.bitching.

Nonetheless …Nonetheless …

They are “how we spend our time.”They are “how we spend our time.”Consequences?Consequences?Staggering.Staggering.

Meetings = #1 Meetings = #1 leadership leadership

opportunityopportunity

If You If You == Your calendar (a fact) and your Your calendar (a fact) and your calendar “says” that meetings are your pre-calendar “says” that meetings are your pre-occupation, then like it or not meetings are occupation, then like it or not meetings are by definition the principal stage for by definition the principal stage for exhibiting leadership.exhibiting leadership.

Q.E.D.Q.E.D.

Meetings are Meetings are #1#1 thing thing

bosses bosses dodo. Therefore, . Therefore, 100%100%

of those meetings:of those meetings: EXCELLENCE. EXCELLENCE.

ENTHUSIASM. TEMPO. ENTHUSIASM. TEMPO. WORK-OF-ARTWORK-OF-ART.. DAMN IT. DAMN IT.

The idea of using “meeting” and The idea of using “meeting” and “excellence” in the same sentence may “excellence” in the same sentence may strike you as absurd. But, again, if meetings strike you as absurd. But, again, if meetings are your principal [leadership] stage … then are your principal [leadership] stage … then they must either be the platform for the they must either be the platform for the aspiration and expression of Excellence or aspiration and expression of Excellence or you are not serious about Excellence.you are not serious about Excellence.

Meeting:Meeting: EverEveryy meetin meetingg that that does not stir the imadoes not stir the imaggination ination

and curiosity of attendees and and curiosity of attendees and increase bondinincrease bondingg and co- and co-

oopperation and eneration and enggaaggement ement and sense of worth and and sense of worth and

motivate ramotivate rappid action and id action and enhance enthusiasm is a enhance enthusiasm is a

ppermanentlermanentlyy lost o lost opppportunitortunity.y.

Fact.Fact.Period.Period.

Think about it.Think about it.Long.Long.And hard.And hard.

Meeting = TheaterMeeting = Theater

Meeting:Meeting: ““TheaterTheater of of inquiry and inquiry and

persuasion and persuasion and motivation and motivation and

engagement and engagement and enhanced enhanced

teamwork”teamwork”

A meeting for the leader is pure, A meeting for the leader is pure, unadulterated theater. unadulterated theater.

It is the stage on which you express your It is the stage on which you express your aspirations and values. The stage on which aspirations and values. The stage on which you demonstrate your approach to inquiry you demonstrate your approach to inquiry that you aim to instill throughout the that you aim to instill throughout the organization. The stage on which you cajole organization. The stage on which you cajole others to hop aboard and stay aboard. The others to hop aboard and stay aboard. The stage on which the notions of accountability stage on which the notions of accountability for actions is forged. Etc.for actions is forged. Etc.

FYI:FYI: This is … This is … notnot … a rant about … a rant about

“conducting “conducting better meetings.”better meetings.”

Most of the “meetings literature” is Most of the “meetings literature” is devoted to “running better meetings,” devoted to “running better meetings,” “running shorter meetings,” etc. Doubtless “running shorter meetings,” etc. Doubtless of value—but dangerously missing the of value—but dangerously missing the point.point.

If the meeting is the leader’s principal If the meeting is the leader’s principal platform for instilling values, etc, then the platform for instilling values, etc, then the objective is far far beyond “efficient objective is far far beyond “efficient behaviors.” behaviors.”

Random Thoughts on Meetings: If They Fail to Excite … Random Thoughts on Meetings: If They Fail to Excite … It’s Your Fault!It’s Your Fault!

Going to a simple cocktail party last night. Found myself, out of habit, scriptingGoing to a simple cocktail party last night. Found myself, out of habit, scripting 1st comments for various people. BEGINNINGS = THE BALLGAME.1st comments for various people. BEGINNINGS = THE BALLGAME.

Forget the "meat." (More or less.) Forget the "meat." (More or less.) Beginnings and endings overwhelm Beginnings and endings overwhelm middles!middles!

Cocktail party, someone a little over their ethanol limit makes loudishCocktail party, someone a little over their ethanol limit makes loudish questionable remark as they leave—that's all you remember.questionable remark as they leave—that's all you remember.

EverEveryy meetin meetingg needs an ener needs an energgetic-excitinetic-excitingg start and a blow-out start and a blow-out endinendingg which launches the “To dos" with vigor which launches the “To dos" with vigor..

Never ever begin a meeting with "Let's get started." Begin it with a plungeNever ever begin a meeting with "Let's get started." Begin it with a plunge not a tiptoe—e.g., some exciting-surprising nugget.not a tiptoe—e.g., some exciting-surprising nugget.

Perhaps begin with a show of enthusiasm, maybe a 90-second report on some Perhaps begin with a show of enthusiasm, maybe a 90-second report on some little thing that went well, maybe with a kudo to someone at the meeting.little thing that went well, maybe with a kudo to someone at the meeting.

You damn well better believe that superb beginnings and inspiring You damn well better believe that superb beginnings and inspiring endings do not occur by accident!endings do not occur by accident!

Right before meeting ends, quickly ask each person how they Right before meeting ends, quickly ask each person how they FEELFEEL about the about the take-aways. Deal now with frowns/dis-engagement.take-aways. Deal now with frowns/dis-engagement.

And if you've got a mega-frowner who didn't speak up, try to And if you've got a mega-frowner who didn't speak up, try to casually/unobtrusively catch him-her for a moment as you leave.casually/unobtrusively catch him-her for a moment as you leave.

I NEVER start presentations with a title slide; I usually begin with a PowerPoint I NEVER start presentations with a title slide; I usually begin with a PowerPoint slide of half a quote, relevant to the presentation, without punch line—a slide of half a quote, relevant to the presentation, without punch line—a

shameless teaser. shameless teaser.

FYI: Remember, one person's humorous remark is another person's insult. FYI: Remember, one person's humorous remark is another person's insult. "Humorous" remarks should NEVER be at someone' else's expense!!!!"Humorous" remarks should NEVER be at someone' else's expense!!!!

Some “stuff.”Some “stuff.”