Gossip, Rumors, and Lies (2016)

In a scenario where a leadership team is gathered for a staff meeting without a clear agenda, the importance of well-run staff meetings is emphasized. The article discusses the significance of 1:1 meetings and staff meetings in building trust and fostering quality communication within a team. It highlights the role of the Meeting Runner in setting agendas and managing discussions effectively. The Meeting Historian is introduced as a crucial role in capturing meeting narratives for future reference. The article stresses the value of sharing meeting notes with the entire company to promote transparency and alignment. It suggests having a structured agenda for staff meetings, including discussing essential metrics, team-sourced topics, and addressing communication errors or misunderstandings. Emphasizing that meetings are a symptom rather than a cure, the article encourages using meetings to address underlying issues, promote healthy debate, and drive actionable outcomes. Ultimately, the goal is to create a collaborative and productive meeting environment where all team members feel engaged and contribute meaningfully to discussions.