Vision in Meetings

11.20.10

Vision in Meetings

In a business climate where slashing prices and laying off hordes to cut costs has become far too common, companies must look at fortifying their gains in all areas of their operation.  Unfortunately, it very well may be that the single largest factor leading to hemorrhaging profits has slipped through the cracks and is festering like suicidal poison among the troops. 

And this factor?  Lack of vision.

Proverbs 29:18 (King James Version)

 ¹⁸Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Executive teams, management teams, departmental meetings, corporate strategic planning consortiums cannot hide... NO event is immune to this virus... that is, IF a leader does not rise up and valiantly provide this purpose.  

The WORST thing a leader could do is gather his team, setup for a meeting, and have no stated purpose, direction or previously defined reason for gathering.  

Like a good movie, each meeting should have a well defined "plot," according to Patrick Lencioni in his book, Death By Meeting: (a must read)

     The key to injecting drama into a meeting lies in setting up the plot from the outset.  Participants need to be jolted a little during the first ten minutes of a meeting, so that they understand and appreciate what is at stake.

     This might call for the leader to illustrate the dangers of making a bad decision, or highlight a competitive threat that is looming.  It can also be accomplished by appealing ot participants' commitment to the larger mission of the organization, and its impact on clients, employees, or society at large.

So next time you book a meeting, follow this:

1.  Get vision, personally.  Clearly determine the primary reason for the meeting?  (try answering this question:  what WON'T happen if we do not meet?)

2.  The 25% rule.  Spend no less than 25% of the proposed meeting time length preparing for the meeting, well in advanced.  (example:  2 hour meeting?  you should spend 30 minutes (or more) preparing your notes, illustrations, thoughts)

3.  Prime the pump.  Send out the VISION for the meeting to your team at least one day prior to the meeting. (this will give them a chance to prepare their thoughts and ideas as well)

4.  Set the hook.  Upon gathering, clearly restate the purpose for the meeting.  (perhaps even write it at the top of your white board... like a "header")  What are you here to accomplish?

5.  Stick to it.  Auxiliary issues will pop up, but you can decide if they are urgent and important enough that your meeting should be refocused to address them.  If not, put them on a "parking lot list" for next time.

5.5  The Law of the Lid.  Realize that your team growth is limited by you, and your ability to infuse your vision into their planning, purpose, and practice.  THAT is @EntreLeadership.