Bad News About Meetings

from Able Leader, September 2006

by Steve Kaye

Just when you thought the world made sense, here's bad news:

Effective meetings have major problems.

Here they are:

Problem #1: It takes time.

Writing a clear, purposeful goal takes time. Planning an agenda takes more time. And finally, contacting key participants to talk about their expectations, needs, and suggestions takes even more time. Many of these conversations will be especially difficult because you will have to spend time listening to someone else's ideas. All totaled, this work can take an hour or more. Many people prefer to skip these painful activities and just hold a meeting that goes on for hours and hours and hours.

Rebuttal: The time spent preparing for a meeting is a wise investment. The result is a shorter meeting that produces results that others will support.

Problem #2: You get work.

Most results obtained in a meeting require that someone do something. And this could be you. Action items pose a serious threat in that they involve responsibility, require skill, and include accountability. It's much easier to hold meetings that produce nothing because then nobody has to do anything. And everyone knows that it's much easier to call another meeting where everyone complains about the problems caused by the people who aren't in the meeting.

Rebuttal: Profitable businesses are built upon a foundation of achievement. And effective leaders are promoted because they contributed to this achievement.

Problem #3: Other people talk.

When others are allowed to talk, they can express views that are contrary to what you want to hear. They propose incredible (impossible) solutions. And (worst of all) they offer good ideas before you can state them. It's preferable to dominate the meeting with rambling stories, endless monologues, and clever self promotions. Often these make others laugh, which always feels gratifying. And it's a fascinating challenge to outwit someone else who is attempting to do the same thing. This makes a bad meeting an enjoyable and entertaining pastime.

Rebuttal: Wise leaders use meetings to create outstanding results by harnessing the group's wisdom. In fact, odd ideas prove useful because they stimulate others to think of better ideas.

Problem #4: Others do well.

This is completely unacceptable in a competitive workplace. Everyone knows that their next promotion depends upon rising above their competition. And so, in a bad meeting the attendees make sure that no one accomplishes anything of merit. That way, top management has to award promotions based on one's ability to appear productive. This is much easier to accomplish than being productive.

Rebuttal: Success is a team effort. And thus, effective leaders help everyone succeed.

Problem #5: You lose control.

No one knows what the results will be in an effective meeting. So, you have to endure the chaos of exploring different possibilities. You have to hope that absurd ideas are rejected. And you have to wait for decisions to be made by compromise and consensus. People who want absolute control prevent this by doing all of the talking or by telling everyone what to do.

Rebuttal: Courageous leaders know that the best results are found by exploring different options. They manage this process with guiding questions and a structure that helps people think freely.

Much success,

Steve Kaye
714-528-1300