If you want to be a better leader, consider learning how to best leverage your team members strengths and minimize their weaknesses. This may require spending some time getting to know them professionally. In addition, learning about your team members and other meeting attendees on a personal level can create more of a connection and potentially strengthen your team and future meetings overall.
Creating an agenda for each person and every meeting seems obvious. Yet many leaders lack exceptional organizational skills needed to create an effective meeting agenda. Focus on creating a specific agenda that lists all the pertinent issues that will be covered and the amount of time allowed for each. Have a watch or clock in your line of sight and move the meeting onward when the time for each topic is consumed. Also send out the agenda in advance of the meeting via email and be sure to have printed copies available for each person on the day of. Many of your team members and meeting attendees will not review the agenda before the day of the meeting.We all know those people who love to hear themselves talk; others are passionate about a subject near and dear to their hearts. Too bad. Cut them off and carry on. Remember that you can always come back to a subject after all else has been covered. Ensure you have a walk-in ready conference room to use for your meeting, complete with up to date technology, pens, paper, break out rooms and easy accessibility for all attendees.
When run efficiently and effectively, meetings can become powerful tools that will boost your team’s productivity and get the results that will drive your business to success. Make a list of your own meeting ground rules and stick to them in order to be a great leader and respected meeting organizer.
