Pseudo Meetings & Role of a Leader

Pseudo Meetings: The meetings where people join yet don’t participate but agree on everything while never taking any responsibility. To make things worse, later on they go on to have side conversations with some of the participants of the meetings. Sometimes these side conversations starts even during the meeting.  As if that wasn’t enough, after the meeting , they also go around talking fluff about ideas in the meeting with other leaders fuelling the ambiguity. Taking no responsibility or accountability, along the way.

A good leader must identify these and be able to address these constantly & consistently. 

Now the question is, how? 

While you cannot fix personalities and attitudes, the simple answer is to take responsibility for keeping the focus on central ideas. 

 Four-step process :

1. Introduce the problem to be solved in full clarity, every dirty detail up-front and center. Be watchful for how that may/may not stir emotions to your audience and then take charge.
2. Propose ideas and encourage questions in full honesty. Challenge and be open to get challenged. Make sure that everyone gets to speak and be heard. 
3. Before everyone disperses, share where the group stands. Document and publish, also offer yourself as a leader to be available for anything that may come up after. Every participant should feel that you know and are in-charge.
4. Promise a Follow up.

Methodically and efficiently make every meeting productive and also avoid those “derailing the topic” and causing “unnecessary escalations”. If you are reading this so far, you all know what we are talking about. 

Personal or proffessional?

These principles don’t stop at a professional level, they apply in our personal lives as well. Each of those conversations within families that mostly ride on deep emotions can get derailed if not communicated well and focus is maintained on real issues.

If there isn’t a responsible leader who is transparent, consistent, and trustworthy, every small issue can turn into escalation leaving families deprived of much-needed support and comfort. 

With that said, I would like to wish you luck, leading your company, team, and families to success.