Date: 2/10/2017

Title: EFFECTIVE MEETINGS – Part 2

By Bryan Arzani

It’s this last one (clear expectations of team members’ behaviors) that can cause the meeting to derail quickly. As a leader, you need to be well versed in understanding group dynamics.

The dynamics of your team is the way they work together and get things done (or don’t). Does everyone get to speak? Are decisions made through consensus, or railroading? Are people focused on the task, or do they get off track by talking about anything (squirrel) that isn’t part of the meeting’s purpose? Then, as a leader, do you hold people accountable for the way they participate in the meeting?

Each member of a team can be held accountable following the CPA thinking. C = cause; P = participate; A = allow. A person can cause the result, participate in the result, or allow the result to happen. As a leader, challenge each team member to apply the CPA thinking to his/her behavior.

If a meeting isn’t effective, did the member cause the ineffective meeting? This can happen if the member didn’t complete the work required for the meeting and ensuing discussion. Did the member participate in the result? This can happen if the member takes part in the side conversations. Did the member allow the ineffective meeting to occur? This can be done by not challenging dysfunctional group dynamics.

Meetings don’t have to be something that causes you to shudder and groan. They can be effective, productive, and even (really) fun!

To learn more about how to practice this understanding, contact Results Group, LLC at www.ResultsGroupLLC.com or 515-330-2866.