When was the last time you left a staff meeting thinking, “Wow, that was a great staff meeting!” Are those crickets I hear? Believe it or not, just the other day I left the office thinking just that. How you ask? This is how… Staff participated. Staff dictated the pace of the meeting. Staff cared.
Here are the things that make our staff meetings successful.
- Strategic & planned ahead: The staff meeting was planned with a goal that the team could accomplish – something small and attainable. Here’s an example: brainstorm at least 3 sustainable program ideas for next month. This gives you a concrete objective for the meeting and encourages staff feedback and meaningful discussion.
- A seed was planted: Staff knew what to discuss and brainstorm before the meeting. At least a week before the meeting works best.
- Incentivized: When reviewing topics,
we made it a Jeopardy game, and the staff member that was most prepared won a prize. Of course, this style shouldn’t be every meeting, but it certainly spices things up a bit. Here are two examples of things that can incentivize the meeting: staff enter a drawing if they add meaningful discussion points to the meeting, or play a game to test their knowledge of your fundamental expectations for the site such as policies and procedures, safety precautions, and engagement with youth. This not only makes you as the supervisor feel more confident about the foundation of the program you lead, but also gives staff their time to show off what they know or don’t know. - Included significant opportunities for staff discussion: Listen carefully to your staff’s wants and needs for the program. If you begin hearing the same items from multiple staff, add it to your staff meeting agenda and discuss it as a group. If multiple people are stating the same things, allow for problem-solving as a team to make them feel like they are as significant to the program as you are.
Use these four elements to prepare for your staff meeting and your discussions will promote meaningful participation, a meeting pace dictated by the staff, and allow staff to care more about the program they are a part of.
Do you have any tricks to share about staff meetings you’ve led or been a part of that you thought were brilliant?
For breakfast, I had Dunkin’ egg and cheese wake up wraps and coffee.
Author: @cahillmef