Do you suspect that your staff meeting is losing its value?  Are people coming late and leaving early?  Are they interacting with their technology or having side conversations?  Do discussions wander aimlessly?  Is it hard to get active participation in conversations?  If you answered, “Yes,” to any of these questions, you need to hit the refresh button.  Here are three things you can try. 

  • Solicit feedback.  One-on-one, ask each person, “What would make our  meetings more meaningful and productive?”  Be quiet and listen.  Thank them for their input.  Then, redefine the meeting’s purpose, agenda and process to reflect what you learned.  
  • Regularly reach out to the team for agenda items.  Solicit their input, and delegate responsibility for topics.
  • Encourage preparation.  Send presentations to attendees in advance.  Doing so provides an opportunity for them to think through the subject and will likely enhance the quality of conversation and decisions.