Initially, everyone was keen. The meetings were full of energy, fired by an exciting vision. One member of the team was the main proponent and a real dynamo. He’d get everyone fired every time we met, but after a couple of meetings his enthusiasm started to wane.
At the end of each meeting one person would write up the minutes and circulate them. Often it took a week or two before they got around to it and in that time the energy dissipated. At the next meeting the dynamo would have to start again in firing people up.
Eventually it was too hard, the dynamo lost his spark and another good idea was forgotten.
If the parties had followed the 8 golden rules for creative meetings the idea might have blossomed into a multimillion dollar enterprise.
8 golden rules for creative meetings:
- The number of people attending is kept to a minimum.
- Meetings start by everyone reporting progress on the actions they have committed to.
- Progress is recorded, displayed and celebrated.
- All issues are discussed at a macro level. Whole team meetings are not for problem solving.
- Everyone is expected to express their opinion before a conclusion is finalised.
- Everyone expresses their intentions at the end of each meeting.
- Notes are taken during the meeting, ideally on a white board and copies handed out before people leave.
- At the end of the meeting everyone departs immediately, to take action.
Meetings are inspiring when people can feel progress towards to an honourable vision. When meetings are inspiring people see opportunities and want to work hard.
Posted by: Donald Jessep in Effective Teams,Leadership
