13 Comments on Bad Meetings
Bad meetings are a cultural malady that senior executives pass on to new
employees. Long pointless meetings are useful in that they keep incompetent people from
interfering with those who are working. An employee who needs permission to buy a box of paperclips can spend tens of
thousands of dollars worth of employee time on bad meetings. Many people attempt to save time by Not planning. This false short cut guarantees
that everyone will spend more time later. Unstructured spontaneity leads to serendipity, which (in business) leads to
bankruptcy. Meetings are a magnetic opiate that keep people from the tasks they were hired to
perform. The main activity in many meetings consists of simple chit chat. If it's an important
meeting, then this becomes sincere chit chat. A meeting without an agenda is like a journey without a map. A teleconference without an agenda is like a journey without a map, in the dark. Most meetings are social street lamps attracting the unproductive moths in an
organization. People fail to prepare an agenda for two reasons. They think they're saving time and
they don't know what to put in it. Expecting a meeting to produce results without an agenda is like expecting the
Easter bunny to leave eggs on your doorstep. Bad meetings waste a fortune. My surveys show that companies waste almost 20% of
their payroll on bad meetings. IAF Certified Professional Facilitator and author Steve Kaye works with leaders who
want to hold effective meeting. His innovative workshops have informed and
inspired people nationwide. His facilitation produces results that people will
support. Call 714-528-1300 or visit his web site for over 100 pages of valuable
ideas. Sign up for his free newsletter at http://www.stevekaye.com
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This is a story about a man and three dogs.I walk a lot - usually for about half to three-quarters of an hour most mornings. I see a guy with two dogs quite a lot. We chat a little occasionally.Of the two dogs (I know I said three, so hold on a bit), one is a light brown lurcher and is quite friendly and the other is a beautiful black labrador. He is 'nippy' as my co-walker tells me, so I have been a bit careful of him, but I always try to stroke him too. Whilst I have always been cautious of dogs, I have always tried my best to make friends with them, wherever I have gone (and no, I don't have a dog, and yes, I probably would like one!)My friend has now gained a third dog - another black labrador; a bit younger than the other two. So as I'm walking down the road this morning, I see all four of them coming down the road towards me. I'm not sure which black labrador is which, so I try to pick out the 'nippy' one (he sometimes nips you, to clarify!).One of the black labradors seems to be 'smiling', the other not, if you get my drift. I guess right, say my 'hellos' safely, we pass pleasantries and I walk on. As I go on, I hear the man say to the nippy labrador, 'I've no biscuits left', as he is pestered.I'm a little sad for the dog. His master doesn't know why he is temperamental, but he is. It's also interesting that he's the first to pester for a biscuit.QuestionsWhy has the 'nippy' dog got a different temperament to the other two?How does this translate to us humans and more specifically, to you and people you work with?What can we learn from this and apply in our day to day business relationships?By considering the answers to each of these questions carefully and applying the thinking to the relationships we have with our people in the workplace, we will do much to leverage our people's performance. And forging the relationships, individualised; personalised, one-by-one with our people, we will get the very best from their individual talents. And, of course help our businesses grow.
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Are you NICE or do you CARE?
Are you NICE or do you CARE?
Most people and most managers want to be nice. After all, it's easier to be nice than to not be nice. But when we talk about being a manager, there is a difference between being nice and being NICE. A NICE manager can be pleasant to be around. They're friendly and helpful and avoid even the most remote semblance to confrontation.
How do you spot a NICE Manager?
When someone brings them a problem, a NICE manager provides them with a solution.
When a report is late because the employee in question and their spouse went to a movie instead of completing the assignment, a NICE manager understands. After all, it's important to balance work and home.
When the presentation lacks clarity, or the conclusions aren't supported by the facts, a NICE manager thanks them for their efforts and doesn't dig any deeper.
And when the production numbers for the month are down for the 3rd consecutive month, a NICE manager clearly understands the reasons that are causing the problems and knows that they are not the fault of the employees.
A NICE manager avoids the controversy and confrontation that goes along with employees who are not quite performing up to par. A NICE manager defends their employees regardless of the situation, because there are always extenuating circumstances.
And that's the problem with a NICE manager. They always understand and always relieve the employee of the responsibility.
What does it mean to be a NICE manager?
N - Nothing
I - Inside
C - Cares
E - Enough
Nothing inside cares enough to hold the employee accountable for their own actions.
Nothing inside cares enough to tell the employee when they are falling behind or failing.
Nothing inside cares enough to be willing to upset the employee even if it is for their own good.
Nothing inside cares enough to help the employee achieve everything that they are capable of achieving.
Frankly, being a NICE manager doesn't really help the employee, because it leaves them without any accountability, and it does no good for the manager either, as they now have more work to do.
Being a NICE manager is a "lose - lose" scenario.
As a Manager, it is your responsibility to the company and to your employees to see that peak performance is achieved. You also have a responsibility to your employees to maximize their talents and growth, to see that they are ready for the promotions that may come their way, and to ensure that they learn the skills to achieve and succeed at higher and higher levels. You owe it to your employees to give them honest feedback on their performance so that they can develop their own skills and prepare for their future. And you can do it all in a positive, reinforcing manner.
That's the difference between being a nice Manager versus a NICE Manager.
Instead of being NICE, I suggest that you CARE.
A Manager who CAREs will coach an employee on a problem, not assume the work for him.
A Manager who CAREs will communicate with an employee when their work does not meet expectations and coach them until it does.
A Manager who CAREs will identify the talents in their people and help cultivate those talents to even greater levels and coach them in areas where they can still develop.
What does it mean to CARE?
C - Coaching
A - Allows
R - Real
E - Excellence
So you have two clear choices. You can be NICE to your employees, or you can CARE.
Which will you choose?
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