Does this sound like one of your usual team meetings? You, the boss, do all the talking ,telling and critiquing of your staff and they do all the listening and head nodding? Well if you are the one who is now nodding your head, then read on, because you are about to learn how to transform your boring (yes, that's what your staff think they are) team meetings into vibrant, energetic and powerful sessions that will have you shaking your head and wondering why you didn't do this sooner. You are about to learn a whole new and better way to make the time you and your staff invest in team meetings, a lot more productive.

So, lets look at the "average" team meeting structure. Firstly, you (TB) makes up a list of things you want to tell the staff. This list generally consists of what is important to you and what you consider the staff are not doing very well within your business. They sit there quietly fuming because they have had to give up their precious time to attend and probably resenting being told what they have done badly and how they should perform better in the workplace. You finish talking and voila, the meeting is concluded without them getting in more than a word or two.

Yaaaawn!

No wonder your staff are starting to get bored within the first 5 minutes of the meeting. Heads are starting to drop, arms are getting crossed, bodies are slipping down in chairs, eyelids are starting to droop and most importantly, ears have been tuned out of what you are saying and into the WIIFM station. (That's the "What's In It For Me" station that is constantly playing in everybody's head). Let's face it, would you want to be on the receiving end all the time without an opportunity to express your thoughts or suggestions about how you could achieve more in your work?

We know that our staff generally dislike (for want of a stronger word) these types of meetings but for some strange reason, we keep doing them. Why? Because we don't know what else to do. We know that it is important to keep the communication lines open between management and staff, but when management are the ones doing all the telling instead of most of the listening, things generally start going down the gurgler and fast.

Now that we know what doesn't work, maybe we should take a look at what does work.

Firstly, if you need to make sure certain things are on the agenda for your team meeting, ensure that each staff member is given a list of items that you would like to discuss. Ask them to put on their thinking caps and to bring along their thoughts and suggestions about each of these items at your scheduled meeting.

Next, allow enough time for your meeting so that EVERYONE gets a chance to put forward their thoughts and suggestions. This is absolutely essential, otherwise what generally happens is that you, and possibly the noisiest team members, generally take control of the meeting and nobody else gets a word in edgewise. Make it a firm rule that each team member gets to speak in turn on each agenda item without any interruptions. When everyone has had their turn to speak, you can open up the floor for discussion making sure that no one is ever interrupted when they are speaking.

What does this do? It ensures that every team member knows that they will have the chance to be heard. This is incredibly important and very empowering for the team members. Some of the very best ideas you will have put forward will often come from the team member who generally doesn't get a word in at your meetings because they are the shy, quiet ones.

After you have completed your list of agenda items and if time permits, work around the room and see if any of your staff have items that they would like to discuss. So many bosses are frightened of this process because they think that that have to agree to an action requested of them that they don't want to take. Make sure that all your staff understand that you are totally willing to listen to their ideas, give those ideas full consideration and make the final decision after that process is complete. You don't have to promise to do anything except listen....really listen without interruption or excuses why you won't or can't act on their request or suggestion.

Sounds really simple, doesn't it? And it really is this simple.

Finally, if you really want to boost team morale, finish off your meeting with some positive reinforcement for each team member. Not by you.....but by the others on the team. Ask each person to make an honest and positive statement about the person sitting on their right relevant to their role in the workplace. This process always has a very encouraging effect on the team member who is receiving the compliment. Do this, and your team will leave the meeting feeling upbeat and more highly committed to their jobs and each other. There is also a great chance that you will have had the most productive meeting ever.

Try it....you will love the results and so will your staff.

An important message
While every effort has been made to provide valuable, useful information in this Newsletter, I and any related suppliers or associated companies, accept no responsibility or any form of liability from reliance upon or use of its contents. Any suggestions should be considered carefully within your own particular circumstances, as they are intended as general information only.