Maintain Your Leadership Edge ... Even in Dreaded Meetings

Around the meeting table are your colleagues. Important decisions need to be made. The meeting is half over, but only a fraction of the agenda has been completed. Discussion on the first topic has spread like a communicable disease. Patient zero, who has a strong opinion on everything despite how much time he has (or hasn't) spent considering the subject, continues to argue his position against most of the group. The discussion is going in circles. Other members of the group are bringing up side topics and issues that start side conversations between one or two people.

When you meet with these people individually, you know how to get things done. Yet somehow in a group, everyone goes insane. Voices in their heads must force them to think of anything else but what is relevant. They are unable to focus, unable to meet the objectives of the meeting that is only taking an hour of the day. They have attended countless meetings, most of which were badly run, and they constantly complain about meetings, yet they appear to be helpless to do anything about it. Their mental dysfunction has incapacitated them. They are resigned to forever repeat this experience. With you.

How do you break out of this asylum? First, you must recognize that you are a leader, and it is imperative that your meetings are productive. Meetings are a reflection of your leadership …