173: Five Steps to a Better Meeting - a podcast by Dave Stachowiak

We've all seen bad meeting behavior, but do you know what to do? Donna Schilder shares five power steps for leaders and facilitators to get us towards a better meeting.

Donna Schilder (LinkedIn)Leadership, Career, and Business Coach


1. What are some types bad meeting behavior we often see?Late arrivers
RamblersSide Conversationalists
Note PassersMulti-taskers
Non-participatorsDominators
Chronic objectorsGate-closers
Off-the-wall commentersEye rollers
SighersPersonal attackers

2. How can leaders identify disruptive behaviors as they happen?Realize that your job is to create the agenda, lead the participants through the agenda, but also, to watch for and facilitate behaviors that prevent the meeting from being as successful as it can be.
Now that you are more focused on what they are, you can watch for these disruptive behaviors.Scrutinize and reflect on meetings that don’t seem to be as productive as they should be.
Watch for other people’s reactions.Are they rolling their eyes, sighing, showing signs of frustration, shuffling in their seats?

3. How can a leader intervene in disruptive behaviors in meetings?For Side Conversationalists, Ramblers, Multi-Taskers, Note Passers, Eye Rollers, Off-the-Wall Commenters,&Eye Rollers: Use non-verbal cues
For all behaviors: Acknowledge and reinforce acceptable behaviorFor Late Arrivers, Dominators, Ramblers, Gate Closers, and really any behaviors:

Review Ground Rules for Effective Meeting BehaviorDon’t interrupt others, encourage new ideas, don’t be late
Encourage shared responsibility for handling disruptive behaviorFor Ramblers or if new topics just come up:

Use a Hold Bin when the meeting gets off topicFor Non-Participators:

Round Robin – always allow people to passInvite people into the conversation


For some of the more difficult behaviors, like Dominators or Personal Attackers:Utilize team feedback tools
Plus DeltaTeam Effectiveness Surveys
Use firm but friendly confrontation4. What is firm but friendly confrontation?

This is in order from the lightest intervention to the strongest intervention. Tread cautiously with the stronginterventions.

General Question: Does anyone else feel we are digressing?Specific Question: For a side conversation: Andrea, do you have anything to add?
General statement (no names): We had agreed as a team that we would be on time to this meetingGeneral statement (looking at the person): Not everyone here seems to be open to new ideas
Specific statement: Joe, you seem to be objecting to this idea.5. When should a leader Take it Offline?
Visit Donna's detailed notes and downloadable PDF
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Next Q&A show is episode #174 on resources for leaders

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I’ve joined Michael as a formal affiliate for this program, so if you use that link, he will pay us a commission to thank us for introducing the course to you.As a special bonus for you, if you decide to register for Michael’s course and use that link, Bonni and I are putting together a special podcast that we’ll air in mid-January on our 2014 achievements and 2015 planning - and just some overall coaching we have on goal-setting.

Once your register, forward your receipt to us at feedback@coachingforleaders.com - that’s how we’ll know to send you the special bonus audio from Bonni and me - and we’ll deliver that to you in mid-January to help keep you on track for your best 2015.Here's how to learn more:
http://coachingforleaders.com/best2015*Thank you to Whitney Stafford, InderMani Bhardwaj, Kunjal Gandhi, Jeff Caldwell, Patti Brosious,

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