WHAT ARE YOU STUCK ON?

For all the founders, CEOs, board members, and team leaders…

Team meetings, whether a MANCO, an OPSCO, or an EXCO used to leave me feeling uninspired and unproductive and when I realised that a simple shift in approach can make all the difference I actually looked forward to the discussions.

What I applied?

I started asking way more questions…and started with this one:

“What are you stuck on?”

What I experienced was that there was suddenly a process of self-reflection that led to problem-solving thinking and addressed barriers to progress with a ton of benefits:

• It was the one question everyone prepared for, as they knew it was going to be asked.
• Often solutions were found in the prep, they just needed guidance and input on which one to choose. And not always from me.
• Acknowledging that you’re stuck on stuff as part of the process helped everyone be okay with not always having the answers and made it easier for them to navigate difficulties and setbacks.
• Sharing their challenges fostered open dialogue and collaboration.
• Everyone contributed for fear of being seen as someone not contributing to the fiscus and cause.
• It encouraged them to push their boundaries and find new solutions without any stigma relating to failure.
• It’s okay to try stuff and to make mistakes.

Give it a try this week. I guarantee your meetings will transform from being boring and full of draining obligations into opportunities for progress and improved team dynamics, trust and cohesion.

Ultimately, the key to better meetings lies in asking the right questions.