But it doesn’t have to be that way. (The meeting, not the dental work.) Although meetings, in general, have a bad reputation, they are necessary to complete projects and communicate with your team.
If properly managed, team meetings can actually increase productivity despite the time they take. As Dave teaches in EntreLeadership Master Series and in his new book, EntreLeadership, there are a number of simple ways to keep your meeting on-track and worthwhile. Here are a few.
Stick to an Agenda
If your team members truly like each other and enjoy spending time together, that’s awesome. You’re well on your way to building a company where people love to work. But when it comes to a meeting, that can be counterproductive.
When Dave first started his leadership meetings, he and his other key leaders spent the majority of the time hanging out. Not much was being accomplished. When they realized that, they set an agenda, prepared for it, and stuck to it. The agenda can be changed up to an hour before the meeting, but once it’s set, it’s set. That format is still being used today and is incredibly productive.
Set a Time Limit
Have you ever been in a meeting that just goes on and on, taking twice as long as necessary? We all have, which is why it’s a great idea to set a time limit. Then, if the session gets off-track or someone feels the need to endlessly talk about a situation, you can remind everyone that time is limited. If an issue isn’t resolved, assign someone to work on it and report back by a certain date, and move on.
Simply Stand
Don’t tell your momma we’re recommending this one because, yeah, it’s kind of rude. But if team members aren’t picking up verbal cues that a meeting is over, simply stand up. If that doesn’t work, head towards the door. We guarantee that everyone—and we mean everyone—will figure it out when you are gone.
Hit the Road, Jack
Want to pump up your team’s creativity? Try different locations for meetings. At Dave’s company, leaders may meet with their team in the company’s coffee shop or outside if it is a beautiful day. For brainstorming sessions, bust loose and go off-site to get the ideas flowing.
By sticking to these simple ideas, meetings can go from being a necessary evil to a great way to improve communication with your team and become more productive. Everyone will soon look forward to attending them instead of finding excuses to avoid them, making everyone much happier and well informed.
No leader should lead without these principles. It’s what your team members need to see in you, and what you want to see in them. Learn more about the EntreLeadership Live Events, and put Dave's 20 years of proven business principles to work for you.
For over 25 years, Dave has grown his company to a national winning brand with more than 900 team members who have impacted millions of lives. His company has been named one of the “Best Places to Work in Nashville” eleven times! EntreLeadership is how he’s done it and how you can do it too. Get your copy of the book now!
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Ramsey