With a new quarter approaching, there will be plenty of strategy meetings to add to your calendar. You and the team need to get organized and plan action steps to delegate across the staff. Without structure, your meeting could not only be a waste of time but could lead to no actual plan at the end of the time scheduled.
Don’t let your strategy meetings go stale, have a plan to make them successful. We have composed of three must-haves for your sessions to get you started!
- Have an agenda prepared before the meeting. This tip is key to ensuring that all of the information is covered and that your team is ready to go with their part of the program. Sending out a team agenda a week or few days before the strategy meeting will help team members understand what you will be discussing during your time together. It also provides a ‘heads-up’ to the company to have materials ready for the topics outlined, especially if their department is in charge of a particular line item on the agenda.
- Set some ground rules. Having guidelines can help keep the discussion on track and time efficient. Start a timer for each speaker during the meeting or tell everyone to hold questions until the presenter has completed their share of information. These rules also help develop a level of respect for other meeting participants while making sure that everyone has an equal opportunity to speak and share their thoughts.
- Try the Parking Lot technique. Don’t let your meeting agenda get derailed with off-topic questions or ideas. While you want to make sure each team member feels heard during your meeting, you do not want to waste time on irrelevant topics when you are trying to strategic and handle the big picture. However, there are still ways to make time for these items purposefully during your meetings. Utilize the Parking Lot technique – outlined and explained HERE – to “put a pin” in that question and address it at the end of the meeting. Just remember to allow 10-15 minutes at the end of your agenda to handle these parking lot questions or comments.
Hope these tips help you prepare the right way for your strategy meeting! It is always fun to switch things up to provide a fresh perspective and renew engagement with your team members. Want more information on how to host a successful workshop? Schedule a free consultation, it’s easy!
Lisa
