Great meetings create focus, clarity and decisions. How many meetings have we “enjoyed,” wondering why the group has gathered and what should come from the session? It’s important that we declare the purpose of a meeting before it happens. Dan Rockwell, our favorite Leadership Freak, says, “The most important work of the meeting happens before the meeting. Confusion about purpose is always the result of inept leadership.”
Leadership Freak’s 10 Commandments of Great Meetings:
Law #1: Thou shalt always declare the purpose of the meeting before it happens.
Law #2: All participants shalt understand and agree that the requirements of law #1 have been fully met.
Declaring the purpose of a meeting doesn’t mean everyone understands or aligns.
Law #3: Thou shalt meet to make decision, never to discuss.
Law #4: Everyone around the table shalt have a stake in the pie.
Law #5: The people closest to the work shalt talk the most.
Law #6: The most powerful person in the room shalt talk the least.
Law #7: Thou shalt engage in lively debate.
When law #6 is violated, law #7 won’t happen.
Law #8: The leader of the meeting shalt keep everyone focused and engaged.
Law #9: Thou shalt silence big mouths and engage quiet participants, even if it hurts someone’s feelings, .
Law #10: Thou shalt assign tasks to everyone in the room.
The person who leaves the room without something to do, shouldn’t have attended in the first place.
