Imagine if you could turn a string of dull meetings into productive work sessions where the team comes together and gets things done. With a few tweaks, you can take your team meetings to the next level.
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Build an A-team
Before you can optimize your meetings, first take a hard look at your team. Assess each individual’s strengths. Are they in the right roles? Shuffle people around as needed, and look to strengthen weaker members. Once the roles are settled, ensure everyone knows they’ll be held accountable for their individual components. Clearly establish the big picture and expected timeline. At the beginning of each meeting, reassess progress against bigger picture goals and schedules.
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Clarify outcomes and gain buy-in at the beginning
When you begin a meeting, set a clear expectation for what you will achieve by the end of the session. Ask team members what results they expect to see and gain buy-in. If people have different expectations, document those to address later. Once everyone has agreed on the purpose and outcomes of the meeting, you can start to talk about how to accomplish those goals.
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Address differences in communication styles
Let’s face it: some communication styles enable collaboration while others throw up major roadblocks. Assessing your communication style is the first step, but you need to do the same for everyone on the team. If there are major conflicts, you’ll need to address those in order to create a productive meeting environment. For example, I prefer to accomplish things quickly, while my partner prefers to take more time and think things through. I’ve learned that I can’t put him on the spot when I’m in a hurry, or he freezes up. He needs time to process, and I’ll achieve my end goal much faster if I allow him that time up front.
Three basic communication skills should be common among everyone on the team: genuine listening, showing empathy, and asking questions in order to get to the root of the issue. If your team is struggling with communication, I highly recommend the Platinum Rule Assessment for each individual. The resulting report will identify whether each person is a director, thinker, relater, or socializer. Among other things, you’ll get a better understanding of each person’s communication style, which will help you adapt yours appropriately. Once you’re able to identify differing communication styles, you can begin to address them in productive ways.
When your team is unified at its core, you automatically break down many of the barriers—not just to productive meetings, but to productivity in general.
Anna Wildermuth is an Executive Coach and Image Consultant who helps executive clients enhance their credibility, strengthen their relationship-building skills, and understand the many sensitivities and social cues that exist in business. Learn more at https://annaexecutivecoach.com/