Streamline Your Staff Meeting

As a manager, you should always have a plan. Read on to find out why planning a staff meeting involves more than just setting an agenda.

Are you having trouble communicating priorities to employees? The weekly staff meeting is a great opportunity to deliver important goals and feedback to employees. Here are a few considerations that can help you streamline the staff meeting. The overall goal is to obtain better results from your team.

First, think about how employees dread the weekly staff meeting. Some employees view this exercise as a weekly detraction from their workload. They don't feel particularly engaged or inclined to contribute ideas in this setting. How can you spice up the meeting to get their attention? You might show a video or dress up in a funny costume. You might tell jokes or play a game. Whatever you do, consider your audience. Use creative techniques to get employees focused at the very beginning of the staff meeting. They should focus on receiving the information that you present.

The second consideration is to streamline the information that you will present. You should eliminate long explanations of information. Decide the best format to convey important ideas. Use a PowerPoint, a handout, a poster, or another strategy so that employees know the bottom line expectations you have. When they leave the meeting, they should be able to share the main highlights of the meeting with fellow workers.

Discover the power of organization. Just like time management, setting priorities for staff meetings is important for managers. This goal setting goes beyond the agenda or the activities used to convey information. The power of organization requires looking at the calendar and upcoming deadlines for your department. Don't forget to think about recurring priorities that are not outlined on the calendar. What is the most pressing information to convey to employees? What items can be saved for a future meeting? How much can you reasonably expect to accomplish in the meeting? You need a flexible agenda that provides ample time for the most important priorities. Managing the information thoughtfully will provide a helpful benefit to disinterested and mildly interested employees.

The staff meeting is a great way to let employees know what you expect. Assume responsibility for preparing for staff meetings seriously. You will get better results if you put more planning into team sessions.

On a final note, the meeting is really your training seminar. What do you have to say and how will you say it?