Leaders can’t lead without meeting with others. Sometimes meetings go well. Sometimes they don’t. Often team dynamics derail productive meetings simply because someone misspoke or misheard. As I began to realize this, several years ago I asked a psychologist to help me create some rules for talking in our staff meetings. I call them conversational ethics. Here are our seven guideline for great staff meetings..
7 Guidelines for Great Staff Meetings
- Listen: let others say their piece; as Covey said, “Seek to understand before being understood.”
- Suspend judgment: don’t make assumptions about what others say.
- Share in the thought pool: everybody gives input; participate truthfully (how you really feel).
- Stay detached from your ideas: don’t take things personally; use “I” messages; own your personal view.
- Let others be inarticulate: help others articulate what they are trying to say by engaging.
- Privacy: if personal issues with you and another person potentially could affect a discussion and/or a decision, first deal with it 1-on-1 in private with the individual.
- Accountability: everybody helps hold each other accountable to this set of ethics.
What guidelines have helped you lead good meetings?
This article on great staff meetings originally appeared here, and is used by permission.
About Charles Stone:
As a pastor for over 43 years, Charles served as a lead pastor, associate pastor, and church planter in churches from 50 to over 1,000. He now coaches and equips pastors and teams to effectively navigate the unique challenges ministry brings. By blending biblical principles with cutting-edge brain-based practices he helps them enhance their leadership abilities, elevate their preaching/ teaching skills, and prioritize self-care. He has written 7 books (number eight will soon be released), earned 5 degrees (including two doctorates) has been married for 43 years, and has 3 adult children and 4 grandchildren. For more information and to follow his blogs, visit www.charlesstone.com
