Chapter 10
Meetings – Time Manager or Time Waster?
- Do you really need all those meetings?
- Group or One-On-One?
- Why morning and mid-week?
- Prov. 24:6 “By wise counsel…multitude of counselors"
As the administrator, office manager, administrative
assistant, or leader of any size group, have you ever thought of how many hours
you have spent in administrative meetings with more than two people? I am sure
I have spent more time in meetings than was really necessary.
There are some leaders who just love meetings. They met to
discuss the day, the week, the month, the year, and then meet next week to do
the same thing. Seems at times that there is more “talk” than “walk”, as
meetings consume our time. Though we think we are wisely planning, we may in
reality be wasting each others time.
I am not a “meeting” person. (Bet you couldn’t tell!) When
given the option of meeting in a larger group, I have more often chosen to
communicate one on one than having a group sit around a rectangular board room
table talk about things that were talked about last time, and nothing much has
happened in between.
Being one who enjoys history, and reading of leaders and
their habits, it seems to me that the “modern” executive or leader in the
office setting has swung the pendulum too far to the “MEETING” side in
communicating. Of course we don’t have all the minutes and details of
communications from ages gone by, but I would have to think that more was done
“outside of the meeting room” than what occurred within.
Meetings do have a purpose. When discussions need to involve
more than two people, due to the responsibilities of each, then of course
meetings are necessary. There are certain criteria that I have followed which
has helped me in having a good meeting when it was needed.
The first criteria I have had in place is to set the
beginning and the ending time of the meeting, so there is no needless dragging
on and endless talk, leading nowhere. If you give people more than hour for a
meeting, you can almost be assured that they will let the time fill up as
allowed.
Most meetings can be accomplished in a half hour. The one
calling the meeting needs to have some discussion topics sent to each one
coming to the meeting ahead of time. Then each one can gather their thoughts
and give them at the appropriate time. Time allowed for discussion between
individuals needs to included in the meeting timeline.
As people become accustomed to the shorten time frame, the
dialogue is more kept to the topic and thus unnecessary talk is limited. With
each knowing ahead of time what will be covered, they had time prior to the
gathering to formulate their input, rather than attempting to do it during the
time together.
Morning meetings are more preferred than the afternoon time,
especially avoided the time right after lunch. Peoples minds are more alert in
the mid-morning time than the mid-afternoon. And do you know one of the rather
unexpected results of shorter , morning meetings? Drowsiness is curtailed to a
minimum! (I had been known to “dream prophetic dreams” during long, boring
meetings, especially in the afternoon!)
I also believe that a mid-week meeting is more productive
than certainly a Monday or Friday meeting. Weekends, meant to be a “break” for
most workers, has now become two of the most busy days in the lives of the
typical worker, and thus the weekend off is taking more of a toll on people. No
Sabbath time for the typical worker these days is taking its predicted cost.
Even many Christians, and especially the administrators and assistants in the
church positions, are especially taxed over the weekend, with the one Sunday,
and often two, church meetings, and other church gatherings that typically take
place on the Saturday or Sunday “day off”..
One on one times with individual staff members not only gets
more accomplished with the quality time, but the staff member has more of an
opportunity to share their real thoughts, desires, and feedback more honestly.
Without the pressure of having to, or wanting to, impress co-workers in a group
meeting, they can express their thoughts and feelings more directly to their
supervisor. It also prevents the one or two dominant personalities from
overtaking a meeting.
Proverbs 24:6 states “By wise counsel…in the multitude of
counselors.” I apply this verse not only in my spiritual life, but also in the
business of ministry. Surrounding yourself with good staff, who have different
gifts and skills than what you as the administrator has, not only makes good
business sense, but also lets you hear the mind of the Lord when needing to
make those everyday, and also critical decisions.
Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.
You can bless this ministry work now, through: Online PayPal gifts
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.
Love For His People, Inc. is a charitable, not-for-profit USA organization. Fed. ID#27-1633858. Tax deductible contributions receive a receipt for each donation.
Love For His People, Inc. truly appreciates your generous support. Please consider sending a monthly charitable gift of $5-$25 each month to help us bless Israel.
You can bless this ministry work now, through: Online PayPal gifts
You can also send checks to the address below. Todah rabah! (Hebrew - Thank you very much.)
©2013 Steve Martin Love For His People, Inc. 12120 Woodside Falls Rd. Pineville, NC 28134
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Note: To read the Intro, Chapter Listings and first nine chapters, please use the Search Box in the top right hand corner of this Blog, and enter "Leadership Through Love." Be blessed in your reading!
Leadership Through Love
Chapter Listings
1. A Gift for His Purposes
- The Early Years
- On the job training
2. Use the Tools You Have, But Not the Staff
- Treasure the people, while digging the foundations
- Do unto them as you would…
- Bless and curse not: honor those who serve with you
3. Right Man (or Woman!) for the Job
- All are created equal – make the most of this!
- If the Shoe Fits, Have Them Wear It
4. Train and Let Loose
- It IS Who You Know and Are Known By
- Hire To Complement Your Strengths
- if you are weak, then they are strong
- Outsource as needed
5. Burn Candles At Both Ends? – NOT!
- Rest and Sabbath Days
- Mornings with the Lord
- Trust in Him at all times
- We all are given 24 hours each day
6. The Visionaries Need You!
- They dream it - you make it happen
- It takes a team
- Head Won’t Get Far without the Neck
(or heads will roll)
7. Field Trips and More!
- Staff Retreats
- Party Time!
- Birthdays and BBQs
- After Hours
8. It Doesn’t All Depend On You
- The Lord is the Rock – Not You
- Whose strength - yours or His?
- Key Staff to Lean On
- Trustworthy managers and assistants
9. Practically Speaking…and Walking
- Handle each piece of paper once
- File so you can find it!
- Early morning – before the others come
- Take a Break
10. Meetings – Time-manger or Time-waster?
- Do you really need all those meetings?
- Group or One-On-One?
- Why Morning and Mid-Week?
- Prov. 24:6 “By wise counsel…multitude of counselors
11. Acknowledge Him in All Your Ways
- Heart of Thankfulness
- Heart of Worship
- Heart of Service
12. Another Man’s Vineyard
- Follow & help fulfill their vision
- Faithful with another’s
- Learn and growth until your time
- The proper way of moving on
