Blog

I’ve been fascinated with how ineffective most meetings are. I’m researching and exploring how they can be more effective.
Where I’m at so far can be summarised as follows. Consider you are a chef baking a cake. It’s all in the preparation and the best ingredients.

There are five ingredients required to bake a great meeting:

1. Good facilitation/chairperson skills (I prefer the term facilitation or host as it implies what the job does)

2. Synergy (healthy relationships & collaboration)

3. Process (1,2,3: before, during & after)

4. Discipline (lots!), and

5. Culture – the foundation which is necessary for effective meetings to take place.

I’m fascinated by Verne Harnish’s (Rockefeller Habits) Meeting Rhythm. Verne recommends a Daily huddle (15 min) with a 3 point agenda (What’s up, Daily measures & Where are you stuck). Then there’s a ‘Weekly’ 30-60 mins (Agenda: Good news, Numbers, Customer & Employee data, Collective Intelligence, One phrase close) with action minutes circulated. He also recommends a monthly (4 hours) and a quarterly (day long off site) and an annual 2 day off site. Together this gives you a  rhythm or routine, and as Verne says ‘Routine sets you Free’! (I agree big time).

A useful learning or evaluation tool I have introduced some of my clients to is the 3 question whip around to close each meeting”

1. What went well?

2. What could be improved?

3. Did we achieve our purpose? (this ensures (for any savvy facilitator) that there is a clear purpose stated and agreed at (or in advance of) the beginning of the meeting).

Like the best tasting cakes it’s all in the ‘right ingredients’ and ‘adequate preperation’.  Enjoy your baking.

PS. I have developed a training programme based on the above and have had excellent feedback and results. Contact me if you want to know more.

Finally, something I came across on the WSJ regarding ‘Stand Up’ meetings. (3.28 mins)

I’m currently reading David Allen’s book GTD Getting Things Done. Here’s David explain what it’s all about at Do Lectures in Wales (32 mins, You’ll get the principles in the first 10 mins!)

Well done to all at Windmill Lane Pictures who did all the special effects for this new movie to be released April 20 2012

Simon Sinek has a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership all starting with a golden circle and the question “Why?” His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King, and the Wright brothers …

This is taken from my flagship personal/professional development programme called  Personal leadership – leading  yourself first before leading others. It is a very interesting  exercise that can be completed over two or three hours over the Christmas Holiday in a quiet  place! Can be done on your own or with a friend/partner. If you have any interest in my  Personal Leadership programme and when it will next be held then contact me.

Click image to download your free Workbook.