Maximize Time When Meeting with Senior Leaders

 Friday 01 Nov 2013 

Maximize Time When Meeting with Senior Leaders

A meeting of multiple time-starved executives is a massive commitment of resources. Focusing on low-stakes issues, like updates or presentations, often wastes valuable time. Instead, meetings among senior leaders should tackle the organization’s most critical issues. Whether you’re a top executive or just meeting with fellow managers, try to concentrate on:

(1) Fundamentals, not incrementals ! 

 Measure importance by the number of zeros involved: Is this a $5,000 decision or a $5,000,000 decision? If there aren’t enough zeros, the decision isn’t strategic enough to absorb time.

(2) The Big Arrow . 

The big arrow is your company’s culture, strategic direction, core competencies, and core values. 

The CEO and his or her leadership team own that big arrow. 

(3) Future leadership.

 Current leadership must engage the organization’s up-and-comers to grow the company. Develop succession plans and include promising leaders in strategic discussions to foster their high-level decision-making.

(4) Undiscussables.

 Whether it concerns a division’s performance, the CEO’s leadership style, or a conflict among the senior team, important topics not being discussed can hold your organization back. Broaching these tough topics is a proven way to improve performance.

Adapted from “Four Areas Where Senior Leaders Should Focus Their Attention,” by Peter Bregman.