THIS Leader Podcast

In this episode, I share a framework for transforming your approach to meetings based on the natural flow of work. By understanding the different meeting types needed at each stage of work, you can dramatically improve your team's productivity and engagement while reclaiming hours in your week.

The Meeting Problem
Most meetings fail because they lack clear agendas, revisit the same ideas without resolution, and include the wrong people. We often try to accomplish everything in a single meeting format, regardless of the work's actual needs. This approach guarantees inefficiency and frustration.

The Solution: Different Meeting Types for Different Stages of Work
All good work follows a natural flow, and each stage requires a different conversation:

• Ideation Meetings: Create space for defining problems and generating creative solutions with diverse perspectives
• Decision-Making Meetings: Evaluate options against clear criteria with the right decision-makers in the room
• Planning and Enabling Meetings: Determine specific steps, resources, timelines, and responsibilities with implementers

After planning comes execution, which requires different meeting formats:

• Launch Meetings communicate plans and activate energy across the organization
• Implementation Meetings provide brief, regular check-ins to align priorities and remove barriers
• Learn and Review Meetings create space for reflection, celebration, and continuous improvement

Three Steps to Transform Your Meetings Starting Today

1. Define the purpose and desired outcome of each meeting with specificity. Ask yourself: What conversation do we need to have? What will we have accomplished by the end?
2. Invite the essential people who need to be involved, and let them know what and how to prepare.
3. Structure the meeting process to match the purpose. Different conversations require different approaches – don't default to the standard "updates and open discussion" format.

I've created templates for each meeting type that you can download from my website. These templates include suggested time allocations, processes, and key questions for each meeting type. 

This Week's Challenge

• Pick one recurring meeting on your calendar that isn't as productive as it could be.
• Identify its true purpose, clarify the desired outcome, ensure you have the right people involved, and restructure the conversation accordingly. I bet you'll be surprised by the difference it makes! 

Want more insights on effective communication? Check out my previous episode on managing change, where I discuss how thorough communication can reduce resistance.