81: Walk and Talk Series - How Meetings Shape Culture
May 12, 2022
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Explore how meetings can shape organizational culture and leadership authenticity, with tips on aligning them with cultural goals. Learn about crafting purposeful meetings, analyzing their impact on culture and behaviors, and strategies for fostering a productive meeting environment that reflects team values.
Carefully selecting meeting participants reflects and shapes the organization's culture.
Defining the purpose of meetings enhances effectiveness, prevents waste, and aligns with core objectives.
Deep dives
The Importance of Who Attends Meetings
Consideration of who participates in meetings reflects the culture in action. The dynamics of who attends, who declines, and who else shows up provide insights into the microcosm of the organization's culture. Choices related to meeting attendees influence the culture being fostered, be it emphasizing speed, empowerment, inclusivity, or customer-centricity. Being deliberate in selecting meeting participants helps align the meeting with the organization's values and desired culture.
Defining the Purpose Behind Meetings (Why)
The purpose of meetings, whether decision-making, information sharing, idea generation, or aligning with higher goals, significantly impacts their effectiveness. Defining the why behind a meeting helps prevent wasted time, boosts engagement, and aligns efforts with the organization's core objectives. Avoiding unconscious inclusion of attendees in meetings solely for harmony can hinder quality debate and decision-making. A clear understanding of the meeting's purpose ensures focused discussions and meaningful outcomes.
Strategic Agenda Setting and Behavioral Alignment (What & How)
Crafting meeting agendas strategically symbolizes the organization's priorities and cultural values. The items on an agenda drive discussions, decisions, and demonstrate the organization's focus. Attending to aspects like sequence, time allocation, and behavioral dynamics during meetings further reinforces cultural alignment. How participants behave, speak, listen, respect others' time, aim for alignment, and commit to actions all reflect the team's and organization's culture. These behaviors are crucial in showcasing and developing a culture of collaboration, respect, and effectiveness within meetings.
In a very practical way, this episode outlines four dimensions through which you can make changes to those meetings you influence, so they become a better symbol of the culture you want to create in your team.