The 25 Minute Meeting

CHAPTER 6 Step up

Now that we are set up for success, and we have showed up on time, prepared and ready to go, we need to run the meeting in a way that achieves our purpose, and gives everyone a chance to step up.

You have probably experienced those meetings where no-one speaks unless forced to, people talk over the top of each other, or one person always dominates.

SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is quite well known for his directness — some might even say bluntness. It’s been reported that he once turned to a participant in a meeting, who had said nothing for the entire session, and asked, ‘You haven’t said anything. Why are you here?’ (Ouch!)

When you want people to step up and contribute, you will get the best results if you have a structure to follow.

Without a structure to follow, meetings can quickly get out of hand.

The 3 P’s of stepping up

A 25-minute meeting needs a structure that enables people to:

1. Participate. Feel comfortable quickly, to bring their genius to the table, share their insights, ask quality questions and engage in the meeting.
2. Produce. Use the meeting to enhance the work, not prevent anyone from doing ‘real work’.
3. Proceed. Follow through on commitments and actions after the meeting to hold people accountable.

Figure 6.1 shows the 3 P’s of stepping up.

Figure 6.1: the 3 P’s of stepping up

Let’s look at each in detail.

PARTICIPATE

Have you ever noticed how ...