Leadership in Context with Keith Tucci
Episode 02
The Art of Meetings Part 2
Set the Atmosphere
The atmosphere affects people’s ability to receive.
Make it clean
Make it comfortable, enjoyable (lighting, temperature, comfortable chairs, etc.)
Make it uncluttered
When we take the time to set the atmosphere it tells people that:
They are important
They’ve been invited to something important
The topic we are going to discuss is very important
Most meetings are relational and vision-driven. Those meetings can take place in an office as long as it is bright, cheery, has chairs to accommodate, comfortable, personal. And offer refreshments.
Side note: I often did meetings right after work hours. Instead of having guys go home, kiss their wife, and then leave, we would meet right after work and they were done and home by 7pm.
Be Intentional
Never apologize for calling people together. Never be ashamed of your vision and your purpose. Instead, always thank them. Always be efficient with their time. Have an agenda sent out ahead of time, and include who is going to be at the meeting. Ask them to come prepared with their thoughts and prayers. Value what you are trying to accomplish.
Be Engaging
We always want to have relational meetings. That can be accomplished without you having to do everything. Have someone else share about one of the reports you are reviewing. Get your people to engage.
Make a list of questions ahead of time that you want to ask. Even think about how you want to direct those questions to certain personalities that could contribute something positive to the discussion. Ask someone to share a verse, something they got from the sermon that week.
Open up the dialogue. Create an environment where people can talk and think out loud in a safe environment. Draw people out, which means that you intentionally include them.
End Clear
At the end of the meeting, make a clear summary:
This is what we talked about.
This is what we agreed on.
This is what we are confused about.
This is what we are clear about.
These are the action items and who is going to do them.
Have someone there take notes and get those notes sent out by the next day to all who were at the meeting. This will help those attending to focus and will show them that you took the meeting seriously, you were prepared for the meeting, and you are setting them up for success moving forward.
When planning a meeting, identify ways you can:
Set the atmosphere
Be intentional
Be engaging
End clear
Join us next week as Keith Tucci continues to put leadership truth in the context of the local church. And as always, please like, share, rate/review, and invite others to listen. See you next week!