Help for the Meeting-Weary Manager
Most of us have found ourselves working on a team at one time or another. That means we have been asked to attend, and even participate, in lots of meetings. Unfortunately, few of us found these meetings to be particularly effective. Many in fact are a complete waste of valuable time and resources.
The difficulty with most meetings is that they are typically planned and run by extroverts, who do not take into account the needs of the introverts. Why is this important? Because a key diffentiating characteristic between extroverts and introverts is in the way they process information.
Extroverts will tend to "think out loud." They verbally walk themselves through the thinking process. Introverts however want to process new information on their own, in their heads, before commenting or vocalizing their thoughts.
And that's just the beginning of the problem. Extroverts do not take into account the needs of the Introverts or the way in which they prefer to process the information to be shared or discussed. Because Introverts require time on their own to process information, they are not prepared (or willing) to make decisions on items that are only being discussed fo the first time in a current meeting. All too often Extroverts bring a new topic up in a meeting, even if it's not on the agenda, and expect everyone to get engaged and act on it right away. Because the Introverts are processing the new information, they may not comment. To the Extrovert, no news is good news and this only means the Introverts must be on board.
Decision-making bias is highlighted when the meeting is controlled by the Extrovert. Extroverts view the quieter more contemplative members as:
"I just assumed that they weren't interested."
"I thought they had nothing to share or say.
"I figured they were a bit stuck up, stand-offish."
But let's not blame the Extroverts for all our meeting problems. Because Introverts prefer to process new information before speaking, they may plan the agenda and arrive at meetings thinking their decisions are foregone conclusions without ever engaging others for input or discussion. In fact, if the normally self-sufficient and reserved Introvert had his way, all meetings would occur by telephone or web conferencing or even email. The electronic meeting minimize the extra-curricular comments and diversions that occur when you put a bunch of Extroverts in a room. But like the Introvert who needs time to process, Extroverts need the opportunity to talk out loud and see who is doing the talking.
Now let's take a peek inside the Introverts' heads. What are they thinking about their group-oriented, outgoing Extroverted colleagues?
"They're all blow-hards."
"Not one of them has a clear thought in their heads."
"They don't know what they're talking about."
You can see how valuable insights might be ignored or interpersonal conflicts arise when personality and behavioral styles aren't considered. When other people's behavior patterns do not match our own, it is not unusual for us to begin to "make up stuff" about why others agree or disagree.
Don't fall into the trap of making stuff up about others without even knowing you're doing it. Understand your personal style, then understand how style differences drive and bias decisions.
Ira S. Wolfe is founder of Success Performance Solutions (http://www.super-solutions.com), a consulting firm specializing in helping employers fit the right employees to the job, on the team, with the company culture. He has also authored two books, Business Values and Motivators and The Perfect Labor Storm. He is also the a frequent guest on TV and Radio Cable shows as well as the subject of several interviews for the likes of Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek Online. You can contact Ira at iwolfe@super-solutions.com or 800.803.4303.
 Google News Updated : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:50:53 GMT Nobel Peace Prize winner wants jobs for the young - International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune - AP HELSINKI, Finland: Nobel Peace Prize winner Martti Ahtisaari said Saturday that finding jobs for more than 1 billion young people in the Middle East and Asia will be a major challenge to peacebuilding in the next decade. Video: Ex-Finland President Wins Nobel Peace Prize Nobel Finn Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 13:12:07 GMT Got $700 Billion? Sweat the Details - New York Times
New York Times - The bailout plan gives Henry M. Paulson Jr., the Treasury secretary, three broad choices in buying assets. By ALAN S. BLINDER THE House of Representatives was against the bailout bill before it was for it. US firms up plan to buy into banks to stem crisis Paulson Indicates Need to Purchase Bank Equity `Soon as We Can' Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 20:39:07 GMT YouTube to play full TV episodes with ads - Afterdawn.com
Afterdawn.com - Google has announced that it will begin offering full-length TV episodes through its YouTube platform beginning this week, thanks to a content deal with CBS. YouTube to Offer TV Shows With Ads Strewn Through YouTube beams up Star Trek for long-form video, prominent new ads Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:13:12 GMT GOP Officials Hope for Stability From McCain - New York Times
New York Times - By ADAM NAGOURNEY and ELISABETH BUMILLER Republican leaders across the country said Saturday that they were worried that Senator John McCain was heading for defeat unless he brought stability to his presidential candidacy and settled on a clear message ... Antiwar Protestor Disrupts McCain Iowa Rally Obama needs 75 percent turnout in Philadelphia, says Rendell Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 22:23:47 GMT Gay Marriage Is Ruled Legal in Connecticut - New York Times
New York Times - In Hartford, Crystal Pretzman of Willimantic, Conn., celebrated the State Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage. Video: Connecticut Court Allows Gay Marriage Marriage ruling not the end of debate in Conn. Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:13:08 GMT US space tourist set for blast-off - Reuters
Reuters - By Maria Golovnina BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (Reuters) - US video game magnate Richard Garriott will blast off into space aboard a Russian spaceship on Sunday watched by his father, a NASA astronaut who went into space at the height of the Cold War. US space tourist set for launch Russian space chief reassures US partners Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 23:10:50 GMT World is united to tackle financial crisis, IMF says - MarketWatch
MarketWatch - By Rex Nutting WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) -- Financial policymakers from 180 nations around the world are united in their resolve to tackle the financial crisis, Youssef Boutros-Ghali, head of the International Monetary Fund's policy committee, ... G7 nations face going cap in hand to China Finance officials comments at IMF meetings Publ.Date : Sat, 11 Oct 2008 21:23:46 GMT Web Site Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Last week I was confused and frustrated about a few... Read More Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More Before you start your own business one of the first... Read More Good news spreads quickly News of the invention of the... Read More Faulty information costs you money! Which of these popular business... Read More For centuries companies have used on-the-job training (OJT). OJT works... Read More Traditionally, in American businesses, the same person occupies the role... Read More When we want to hire people for a corporation or... Read More Growing companies must always be ready for the next challenge.... Read More This article relates to the Safety and Working Environment competency... Read More Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More To a narcissist-employer, the members of his "staff" are Secondary... Read More Leadership in Troubled Times The... Read More Here are seven dangers of outsourcing your software development. They... Read More Recruiting and hiring are often done in haste, leaving the... Read More A major source of communication breakdowns is incongruence between the... Read More Q: I started my small business about a year ago... Read More Performance appraisals aren't fun. But a lot of the time... Read More The way you structure your payment offers can increase your... Read More IMPROVING COMMUNICATION DURING THE PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL: If the employee has... Read More Some say that in business as in sex: if it... Read More What is Neuro-Linguistic Programming?Neuro-Linguistic programme is nothing but the study... Read More This article, Job Security in Today's Workplace, is part of... Read More I'm sure you've experienced those typical "headache" meetings! You know... Read More Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Adsense
websites
Riding the Waves to Success
Creativity and Innovation Management: The Value Of Due Diligence
Your Blueprint For Business Success
Best Practices Plan: Dissemination of a Great Idea
Popular Business Misconceptions Cost You Money!
Action Learning: Its More Than OJT
Rethinking the CEO-Chairman Split
Four Corners of a Triangle: Why Organizations Succeed or Fail
7 Tips for Growing Your Business You Do Not Want to Ignore: Business Strategies To Easily Implement
Tales from the Corporate Frontlines: Improving Workplace Safety
Innovation Management: The Power of Emotional Attachment
The Narcissist in the Workplace
Leadership in Troubled Times
Avoid These Seven Deadly Dangers Of Outsourcing
Five Essential Hiring Practices
Its Not Always What You Say
Managing Employees Is A Little Like Herding Cats
Performance Appraisal - Ten Stupid Things Managers Do To Screw It Up
Structure Your Payment Offers to Sell More Products
Performance Appraisal Scenarios: Improve Your Communication
Lets Flourish and Prosper!
How to use NLP for Business?
Tales From The Corporate Frontlines: Job Security in Todays Workplace
Holding Effective Meetings Can Be Easier than You Think!
Innovation Management ? Good Leadership
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
6 Steps to Effective Communication
Effective leaders are known for being excellent communicators. Here's what... Read More
Behavioral Extensions and Its Implications at Workplaces
The study of Behavioral extension involves investigating the source of... Read More
Ten Relationship Traits And Skills For Good Leadership
An important aspect of good leadership is the ability to... Read More
Why Your Business Needs an E-Mail Policy
Why is it imperative to have a company E-Mail Policy?... Read More
Is this A Good Time To Sell Your Body Shop Business?
Have you ever asked yourself the question? "Is this a... Read More
Business Relationship Germs
In management seminars I often compare debt to an infection.... Read More
Hiring Great People And How to Be One Yourself: Five Secrets
Bad news.Your senior vice-president, your marketing director or your accounting... Read More
Lawyers With 2 Hands And Everything Else
I heard this back a few years ago. The boss... Read More
New Leadership For A New War
Military analysts call this "asymmetrical" war (as if war has... Read More
4 Simple Steps to Successful Delegation
Last month, my featured article was about creating a "Stop... Read More
Choosing the Right Corporate Training
According to a Gallup Poll, 80 percent of employees said... Read More
Management to the Vision-Contribution and the Role of Compliance
As a manager our role is to:1. Establish the vision,... Read More
Burger on a Bun Decision Making
When approaching any decision, it's important for individuals to maintain... Read More
So, You Want to be in Management? Five Essential Factors that Will Determine Your Chances
The following information is based upon over 500 interviews with... Read More
Argue Your Way To Business Success
"Jack" (not his real name) is a vice president of... Read More
Dissenion Down On The Cubicle Farm
How content and satisfied are American employees? Not very!According to... Read More
What To Do When Your IT Project Is Late, Over Budget, and Looks Like It?s Never Going To Work
Here's a scary statistic. According to four prominent research firms,... Read More
Why Management Kills Creativity
Ten or so years ago, an international consultant, specializing in... Read More
The 70% Solution: Practical Testing and Version Control
"What do you mean you need to push back the... Read More
Qualities of a Great Manager
In the call center environment we are often only as... Read More
Great Groups! - Getting a Group to Think Like a Genius
Great Groups! - Getting a Group to Think Like a... Read More
How to Enhance Quality in Your Business
Every business must strive to provide quality products and services... Read More
Profits and Business Success - 5 Profit Traps to Watch Out For
The old saying 'You have to spend money to make... Read More
Effective Meetings by Phone - Part 1, How to Plan a Teleconference
Teleconferences can be a boon or a bust. On the... Read More
Innovation Management ? Selecting Good Ideas
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
Business Management |