Page 197 - The Voice of Authority

Lead Work Sessions—Not Bull Sessions—
When You Meet

Humorist Robert Orben quips, “The two biggest problems
in America today are making ends meet—and making
meetings end.” According to our Booher survey, 51 per-
cent of the respondents attended on average more than
four meetings per week. Of those meetings, one in five
lasted longer than an hour.
And what’s the payoff for that big investment of time?
Not much. According to these respondents, 29 percent re-
port that they accomplished the meeting goal less than half
of the time.
So how can you turn bull sessions into productive meet-
ings?
First, get the right people in the room. Make sure the
people who have the key information get invited to the
meeting. Otherwise, you have pooled ignorance. Who are
the key influencers? Who can veto decisions made in the
meeting? Who will likely oppose decisions and plans made
in the meeting? Whose cooperation do you need to make
sure all decisions are implemented? These are the people
you need in your meeting.
Put together an appropriate agenda in the form of a fo-
cused question, not an issue. Far too many meetings have
as their stated purpose things like “Philadelphia Trade
Show.” Does this mean
you’re going to discuss
whether to attend? Deter- To have an open mind
mine the budget for the doesn’t mean you must
show? Identify ways to at- always have an open
tract visitors to the booth? mouth.
Decide whether to have a —Anonymous
hospitality suite? Decide

Is It Circular? 185