by Brenda Tassava, CVPM, CVJ
Do you have a newly formed leadership team but you dread meetings? Maybe you’ve had bad experiences in the past that have turned you off and given you a case of meeting avoidance. The problem is, the more time that passes between meetings with your team, the more you need to discuss, and the more likely you are to face another long, drawn-out meeting where nothing seems to get accomplished. Stop the vicious cycle by taking positive steps towards improved communication by meeting more frequently, with better direction and purpose.
Meet Weekly
Make the move to weekly meetings, but limit the length of each meeting to 30 minutes. You can accomplish 30-minute weekly meetings if you make a commitment to start and finish on time, and follow a pre-created agenda that everyone has access to ahead of time. Weekly meetings mean that issues will be addressed in a timely manner and the entire Leadership Team is more likely to be on the same page.
Stay on Track
Keep your meetings on track by creating and sharing a meeting agenda a few days before each scheduled meeting. This will give everyone the opportunity to compose their thoughts and ideas ahead of time, keeping your meeting on schedule each week. Effectively running a meeting takes practice, and this is an opportunity to develop the members of your Leadership team. Give everyone the chance to create the weekly agenda and meetings by taking turns each week.
Keep the Momentum Going
You gathered together, shared concerns and discussed ideas. Don’t let things end there—–form a plan of action. End every meeting with weekly goals that have defined action plans so the team keeps the momentum of their collaborative efforts going.
After a few weeks, you and your team will benefit from tighter communication, collaborative brainstorming, growth and development in a safe environment, and a more positive workplace. Start your year off right by planning and scheduling your first 30-minute meeting!