Who's in Charge Here?

Leaders strive to arrange compelling, engaging, and productive meetings. Yet many meetings seem like an obligation rather than an opportunity to make things better.

Additionally, many of the leaders with whom I work are concerned with the number of meetings for which they are responsible. The responsibilities include:

• Determining the time, place, and agenda of the meeting

• Presiding over the meeting

• Reviewing and approving the minutes

• Ensuring proper follow-through

  
  

Ironically, the antidote to more engaging meetings and leader overload may be the same: the leader should delegate the responsibilities for the meetings to other team members. Most of us are less engaged in activities in which we are not playing an active role. Coming to meetings where the leader has the most authority and takes the most responsibility for the majority of work invites less than total engagement.

Why not rotate who leads the meetings and who is accountable for all of the meeting responsibilities?

The advantages are manyfold:

• Each team member feels ownership.

• Each team member understands the effort required for a great meeting and is more likely to be an active participant even when she is not leading the meeting.

• The work of the team is more evenly distributed.

• It indicates that the nominal leader is not intoxicated by the power of leading the meeting.

• It frees time for the nominal leader to work on other pressing tasks.

  
  

Before delegating the lead role for meetings, be clear about what is expected from that week’s leader and how she will be held accountable for fulfilling those responsibilities.

Spread the leadership wealth and see a great return on the meeting investment.