Leadership Tip

How to manage meetings involving 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 organisation’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. Future leadership. Current leadership must engage the organisation’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.

3. Undiscussables. Whether it concerns a department’s performance, the chief execuitive's leadership style, or a conflict among the senior team, important topics not being discussed can hold your organisation back. Broaching these tough topics is a proven way to improve performance.


The above leadership tip...
was sent in response to a question from a participant on our acclaimed 10/10 leadership development and mentoring programme. Whether you're a first time manager or an experienced leader, straightforward, practical advice on best practice is hard to find. Until now. To find out how you, your team or your organisation can benefit, please join us on our next complimentary webinar or contact us.


For more tips...
on leadership and management good practice, subscribe to a Minute with Montgomery on 10TV.

Subscribe

Free weekly email on things you didn't know last week with links to articles on leadership excellence. To view previous editions click here.


Unlock your potential

Whether face to face, or over the telephone, we can develop your leadership skills, support you in making important decisions, and help you reach your potential.

Read More

Leadership Articles

10 questions leaders should never ask

Leadership is often portrayed as having the right answers. In reality, great leadership is more about asking the right questions. Questions can open minds, build trust and encourage innovation. Equally, they can shut down discussion, create... read more

10 ways to build your team

Everyone would like to be part of a dream team - a group of people, each skilled in their own discipline, pulling together to achieve more than they ever could alone. Yet while most organisations talk about teamwork, they still tend to reward individual... read more

10 weekend habits of purposeful leaders

The most impactful leaders know that success doesn’t come from working around the clock - it comes from working with intention. And that includes how we spend our weekends. While weekdays often revolve around performance, the weekend is a chance to reset... read more

Leadership Tips

HOW TO LEAD WHEN YOU KNOW DIDDLY SQUAT

I may be five years late to Clarkson’s Farm, which is especially remiss given that Diddly Squat is almost on my Cotswold doorstep. Having now completed Series One, I understand why it has attracted such affection. When the farmer who had worked the land... read more

HOW TO MAKE AMBITION SERVE YOU

For most of my life, ambition was an ally. It helped me join the Royal Navy at 16 with no qualifications, rise from the lower deck to become an officer, build a second career in financial services and create TEN. Every chapter rewarded the same formula:... read more

HOW TO GET YOUR BOSS TO WANT A COACH

Senior leaders often receive less honest feedback precisely when they need it most. Suggesting that your boss needs help, however, is unlikely to end well. The secret is to make coaching feel like an opportunity they have chosen, not a remedy you have... read more