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How to handle team meetings
It can be tempting for you, as team leader/manager, to take the chair at all your meetings, but this may not always be the right approach or even necessary.
- Think about where you position yourself, physically, so you don’t dominate the discussion
- Encourage open debate involving everyone’s contribution, then consider using post-it notes as a further way of securing input from everyone if the less vocal ones are still struggling
- If you have strong views, save this for the end and then use them to add value to others’ ideas, rather than as a means of replacing them
- If your views are fixed and not up for grabs, i.e. non-negotiable, be honest about this and don’t invite contribution if you don’t want it
- Invite the team to set the agenda to which you can then also contribute
- Allow others to take the lead/chair the meeting as appropriate, and whenever possible as a development opportunity
Remember, there are times when a manger will need to direct and tell the team what’s required, and if these times are balanced with others taking the spotlight occasionally, this will confirm the importance and value of the contribution of each and every individual.