Thoroughly Thoroughly Re-think Your Re-think Your Approach to Approach to MeetingsMeetings!!

Bitch all you Bitch all you want, but want, but meetinmeetinggss

are what you are what you [boss] [boss] dodo!!

Meetings are Meetings are #1#1 thing thing

bosses bosses dodo. Therefore, . Therefore, 100%100%

of those meetings:of those meetings: EXCELLENCE. EXCELLENCE.

ENTHUSIASM. TEMPO. ENTHUSIASM. TEMPO. WORK-OF-ARTWORK-OF-ART.. DAMN IT. DAMN IT.

Meeting:Meeting: EverEveryy meetin meetingg that that does not stir the imadoes not stir the imaggination ination

and curiosity of attendees and and curiosity of attendees and increase bondinincrease bondingg and co- and co-

oopperation and eneration and enggaaggement ement and sense of worth and and sense of worth and

motivate ramotivate rappid action and id action and enhance enthusiasm is a enhance enthusiasm is a

ppermanentlermanentlyy lost o lost opppportunitortunity.y.

Meeting:Meeting: ““TheaterTheater of of persuasion and persuasion and motivation and motivation and

engagement and engagement and enhanced enhanced

teamwork”teamwork”

Meeting = TheaterMeeting = Theater

Meetings = #1 Meetings = #1 leadership leadership

opportunityopportunity

FYI:FYI: This is … This is … notnot … a rant about … a rant about

“conducting “conducting better meetings.”better meetings.”

Random Thoughts on Meetings: If They Fail to Excite … Random Thoughts on Meetings: If They Fail to Excite … It’s Your Fault!It’s Your Fault!

Going to a simple cocktail party last night. Found myself, out of habit, scriptingGoing to a simple cocktail party last night. Found myself, out of habit, scripting 1st comments for various people. BEGINNINGS = THE BALLGAME.1st comments for various people. BEGINNINGS = THE BALLGAME.

Forget the "meat." (More or less.) Forget the "meat." (More or less.) Beginnings and endings overwhelm Beginnings and endings overwhelm middles!middles!

Cocktail party, someone a little over their ethanol limit makes loudishCocktail party, someone a little over their ethanol limit makes loudish questionable remark as they leave—that's all you remember.questionable remark as they leave—that's all you remember.

EverEveryy meetin meetingg needs an ener needs an energgetic-excitinetic-excitingg start and a blow-out start and a blow-out endinendingg which launches the “To dos" with vigor which launches the “To dos" with vigor..

Never ever begin a meeting with "Let's get started." Begin it with a plungeNever ever begin a meeting with "Let's get started." Begin it with a plunge not a tiptoe—e.g., some exciting-surprising nugget.not a tiptoe—e.g., some exciting-surprising nugget.

Perhaps begin with a show of enthusiasm, maybe a 90-second report on some Perhaps begin with a show of enthusiasm, maybe a 90-second report on some little thing that went well, maybe with a kudo to someone at the meeting.little thing that went well, maybe with a kudo to someone at the meeting.

You damn well better believe that superb beginnings and inspiring You damn well better believe that superb beginnings and inspiring endings do not occur by accident!endings do not occur by accident!

Right before meeting ends, quickly ask each person how they Right before meeting ends, quickly ask each person how they FEELFEEL about the about the take-aways. Deal now with frowns/disengagement.take-aways. Deal now with frowns/disengagement.

And if you've got a mega-frowner who didn't speak up, try to And if you've got a mega-frowner who didn't speak up, try to casually/unobtrusively catch him-her for a moment as you leave.casually/unobtrusively catch him-her for a moment as you leave.

I NEVER start presentations with a title slide; I usually begin with a PowerPoint I NEVER start presentations with a title slide; I usually begin with a PowerPoint slide of half a quote, relevant to the presentation, without punch line—a slide of half a quote, relevant to the presentation, without punch line—a

shameless teaser. shameless teaser.

FYI: Remember, one person's humorous remark is another person's insult. FYI: Remember, one person's humorous remark is another person's insult. "Humorous" remarks should NEVER be at someone else's expense!!!!"Humorous" remarks should NEVER be at someone else's expense!!!!