7 Simple Ways to Make Team Meetings Work

Bright meetings point to energized people. Lousy meetings point to poor leadership.

When everyone groans before team meetings, it’s time to:

  1. Restructure the way you run meetings.
  2. Refocus on purpose and mission. Why meet in the first place?
  3. Remove deadwood. Teams rise when you jettison weight.
  4. Retire the team.

Successful team meetings clarify focus, energize members, fuel engagement, and move the agenda forward.

The purpose of team meetings is to achieve something you can’t do alone. Image of an orchestra with a choir.

7 Simple Ways to Make Team Meetings Work:

#1. Honor what works.

  • What’s working about the way you’re working together?
  • What behaviors produce wins?

Success builds confidence.

Three tips to make meetings work: Too Big Too Frequent Too Long.

#2. Solve relevant challenges.

Challenges make meetings matter. If the agenda says “touch base,” touch delete.

Painful problems turn solutions into medicine.

#3. Give authority.

Teams aren’t groups of tea-sipping commentators. Successful teams:

  1. Seize opportunities.
  2. Define challenges.
  3. Develop solutions.
  4. Assign tasks.
  5. Give authority.
  6. Dedicate resources.
  7. Create accountability.
  8. Establish timelines.
  9. Evaluate results.
  10. Adapt—move forward.

Reject handwringing. Give power to people who offer solutions.

#4. Choose who to become.

Who you aspire to become is more important than who you are. Ask one team member to share how they developed one of their core competencies at each meeting.

#5. Expect participation.

Drifters drain enthusiasm. Momentum requires participation. Maximize each person’s contribution. People who leave meetings without something to do shouldn’t attend the meeting. If they “need to know” send them the minutes.

How to Run a Meeting – HBR

#6. Make decisions.

The purpose of team meetings is to achieve something you can’t do alone.

Decide how you will decide.

  1. Work toward consensus.
  2. Give input to a decision maker.

Tip: Choose a decision-maker when expertise or short timelines are in play.

#7. Disband.

Teams live beyond their usefulness. Notice low-energy meetings. Ask, “Are we accomplishing meaningful work?” Perhaps you need a new problem or new members.

What makes team meetings work?