Business Meeting - Rules for Success

Welcome back to another empowering episode of “The Rabbi Who Got Rich on Sunday” – “Business Meeting – Rules for Success.”

This is the third part of our mini series, “Business Relationships – Hiring, Firing and Working with Business Partners”.

In the transcription of this podcast, you’ll see the link to my website where you can see more resources as well as previous episodes of my podcast.

Today we’re diving into one of the most misused tools of professional success – mastering the art of business meetings. Grab your notepads because, trust me, you’re going to need them.

Business Meeting story

At a company I once consulted, the boss had decided to start every week with a big meeting of all the department heads.  

No one wanted to be there, as everyone was eager to start their week off with a bang, not a meeting.  

However, everyone told the boss that his weekly team meeting was an inspiration to their weekly success.  

It was almost a game to figure out how to tell the boss what he wanted to hear, never disagree with him, give reports that try to outdo the previous speaker and place blame on factors outside of their control for any failures. They would also make up “facts” without any data to support them, share the most humorous attempts with the rest of the company etc. 

Newbies to the meeting would often try to participate honestly at first, but would find themselves under group attack and become defensive.  

Each week one department head was chosen to share highlights of their department’s success and would go on and on rather than being concise.  

Then the boss would assign different team members to make other spin-off meetings to then report back to the big team meeting the next week. 

Needless to say, the boss realized that this weekly meeting was a disaster and asked for help making a set of ground rules so the department heads would actually collaborate and team up to create new initiatives that would bring the company to new levels of success.

Rules for success

Most business meetings are known to be time wasters, which is the answer to “why have ground rules?”.

One of the companies I work with had already solved this issue by establishing ground rules that were repeated before each meeting. The person leading the meeting had everyone there listen to a concise overview of the ground rules and raise their hand high to acknowledge their willingness to follow them before each new meeting.  

This company has some of the most successful and productive team meetings I’ve ever seen.  So here are their ground rules with a bit of explanation as to why they are each important.

Before I list their rules, it is important to have an agenda with clear goals distributed ahead of time so everyone can come prepared to succeed. 

Start on time and do not allow interruptions such as cell phones etc. 

If the team cannot implement the below rules then you may need to take a step back and break down the silos, making every department feel like they are on their own and not part of an awesome big picture.  

If this is the case with your business, it would be my pleasure to schedule a consultation to discuss how to break through that barrier!  

Don’t forget, the below ground rules are an example that works well for a particular business.  Your rules should be similar but customized for your team.

Honesty is the best policy

In the business world, honesty is the cornerstone. Encourage open and truthful communication to foster an environment of trust. This transparency lays the foundation for effective decision-making and problem-solving.

Open, candid, constructive

Create a culture of openness where team members feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. An open dialogue encourages creativity and ensures that all perspectives are considered. Successful business meetings thrive on the diversity of ideas. Encourage team members to express their opinions openly, even if they differ from the norm. Constructive criticism is a powerful tool for improvement and innovation. Be open to suggestions, candid in your discussions, and constructively critical. It’s not about being right; it’s about getting it right. 

Own your own data

Don’t bring a camel to a horse race. Own your data – be responsible and bring accurate, reliable information to the table. Take responsibility for the information you bring to the table. 

Successful business meetings are built on accurate and reliable data. Avoid making assumptions, and ensure that the information you present is well-researched and pertinent to the agenda. 

Confidentiality creates trust

What’s said in the conference room stays in the conference room. Confidentiality is the glue that binds trust  within the team. What’s shared needs to be kept private. This builds trust among team members, fostering a secure environment for brainstorming and decision-making. Loose lips can sink more than ships; they can sink careers.

Active participation

Participate, engage, and make your presence felt. Encourage everyone to actively contribute, ensuring that each voice is heard. This not only enriches discussions but also promotes a sense of collective ownership.

Non-defensive attitude

Constructive criticism is your friend. 

Embrace it, learn from it, and watch your success catapult.

Approach discussions with an open mind. A non-defensive attitude facilitates a more receptive environment for ideas. Acknowledge differing opinions without defensiveness, fostering an atmosphere of collaboration.

Conciseness – get to the point

Keep it concise, my friends. Rambling turns a productive meeting into a waste of everyone’s time. Time is a valuable resource. Ensure that discussions are concise and focused. To the point communication aids in keeping the meeting on track and allows for a more efficient use of everyone’s time.

Mastering the art of a successful business meeting is a journey, not a destination. 

By implementing these ground rules, you can transform your conference rooms into hubs of productivity and innovation. 

Stay tuned for more insights on running effective meetings and unlocking the full potential of your team.

Let’s shape a future where every business meeting is a stepping stone toward achieving your dreams.

Tune in next week to learn how to master the art of argument to win the battle and the war and have the person you are arguing appreciate your opinion.

For more guidance and tips on how to live your dream life, go to my website, https://therabbiwhogotrichonsunday.com to access content-rich articles and more.

You can also access a link to that web page through the show notes, if you are listening to this podcast on any of the popular podcast platforms.

Resources:

1. https://www.mural.co/blog/meeting-ground-rules#:~:text=Ground%20rules%20help%20set%20a,solutions%2C%20and%20get%20work%20done.
2. https://grammarist.com/proverb/honesty-is-the-best-policy/