Thursday, November 10, 2022

Get More from Meetings - CEO Lessons*

*Partially adapted from Indra Nooyi, former CEO PepsiCo

Has a meeting changed your life? We had just lost a two point, overtime game to the two-time defending state champion. Coach slammed the team room door shut and reamed us out for forty-five minutes. No excuses, no coddling. "We lost because it said LEXINGTON on their jerseys. We lost because you didn't believe in yourselves. We are the better team. We won't lose to them again." We played them again at their place and crushed them by 18. We beat them by 1 in OT in the Boston Garden sectional final, our thirteenth consecutive win. 

What changed? We practiced 5 against 7 full-court pressure each practice with no dribbling. Pass and cut. Hard practice pressure made game pressure routine. 

Make better meetings. 

  • Take charge. To lead, show up as a leader. 
  • Have a clear purpose. 
  • Create a one page agenda.
  • Lead but listen. 

Who? 

  • Confirm key people are present. 
  • Make space for everyone to contribute. What do you think?

Accountability. 

  • Take accountability for the meeting. 
  • Ensure action from every meeting.
  • Don't accept mediocrity. 

Feedback. 

  • Followup on objectives after the meeting.
  • "We met with the Coach, these are the messages."

Inclusivity. 
  • Be attentive to behaviors.
  • Engage with the speaker (includes body language).
  • "Confront issues constructively." 
  • Avoid passive aggression.
  • Engage the hesitant - help others bring their best. 
Key phrase.

  • "Help me to understand you better." 
Lagniappe. It's how you work, not just working. 



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