One sure way to lead lousy meetings is to rely on spontaneity. Never let spontaneity be an excuse for lack of preparation.
Spontaneity within a plan is more effective than spontaneity as a plan.
Potential agenda items:
At the beginning of a meeting:
- The goal of this meeting is ….
- The result of this meeting will be ….
Exploiting strengths:
- Decide where we are winning and why.
- Decide where we are most effective and why.
- Determine our most profitable line of business.
- Come up with three ways to expand our most profitable line of business.
- Execute one way to expand our most profitable line of business.
Confronting waste:
- Decide the main area where we are pouring more in than we are getting out. Adopt a short-term action plan to make improvements in that area.
- Reallocate resources that are producing disappointing results, if #1 on this list doesn’t help.
- Make a list of three behaviors/initiatives/programs we might stop. Determine how to address the top item on the ‘stop list’.
Maximizing customer experience:
- Determine the story we want our customers telling about us.
- What three things will we do this week/month to inspire the stories we want our customers telling about us?
Team development:
- Complete this statement for the person to your right, “When I see you at your best, I see you….”
- One way to improve our next meeting is….
Seizing opportunities:
Meeting one:
- What opportunities might we explore? (Open discussion.)
- Which of these opportunities seem most promising?
- Who will do homework on potential opportunities and report at our next meeting?
Meeting two:
- Report on potential opportunities?
- What opportunities should we consider implementing?
- Who will do homework on opportunities under consideration?
Meeting three:
- Report on opportunities under consideration?
- Which opportunity will we exploit?
- What’s the next step? Establish clear action items and deadlines.
What agenda items might you suggest for leadership meetings?
