This Meeting Sucks

For any team, the customer or user is central to everything you do. Understanding who your team supports at a deep level is critical to ensuring that what your team does achieves real success. In this episode, we walk through part three of the third phase in our MeetingMakers Framework: Aligning, focused on customers. We discuss the importance of centralizing customers in strategic conversations, delivering value, and meeting their...

Jumping into goal-setting without a clear understanding of the present sets the stage for misalignment and missed opportunities. In this episode, we’ll walk you through part two of the third phase in our MeetingMakers Framework: Aligning, focused on the present. We discuss the importance of aligning on internal and external realities to set a foundation for effective strategic planning and achieving your goals.

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When teams design a path forward, reflection on the past is a critical step that is often missed. In this episode of This Meeting Sucks, we’re going to walk you through part one of the third phase in our MeetingMakers Framework: Aligning, focused on the past. We’ll discuss the importance of looking back before moving forward and take you through our History Map agenda template. 

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Trust is the foundation of a healthy team, and without it, teams lack the tools for constructive conflict, commitment to goals, mutual accountability, and major results. In this episode of This Meeting Sucks, we’re going to walk you through the second phase in our MeetingMakers Framework: Building Trust. Trust doesn’t just happen. Like any relationship, you have to cultivate trust—a trusting team is one that thrives in the face of ...

Whether you're a new team working together, an existing team looking for a reset or just unsure about where a project is headed, it's important to get everyone on the same page. In this episode, we’re going to walk you through the first phase in our MeetingMakers Framework: Initiating, which includes Project Kick-Offs and Team Charters. With these meetings, you can lay the groundwork for success, ensuring everyone is on t...

Welcome to Season 4, MeetingMakers! This season is all about high-performing teams and how you can build your way to high performance through meetings. We’ve codified a suite of agendas and companion templates you can modify and use with your team. This episode introduces you to the MeetingMakers Framework and walks you through the coming season.

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TMS S...

No matter your skill at leading meetings, there are some occasions when hiring a facilitator is in your best interest. This episode goes over considerations to help you recognize when it’s time to bring in a third-party facilitator and gives you a guide of questions to consider when searching for the right person to lead your meeting.

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Sm...

Organization leaders and meeting sponsors carry a large influence on the meetings they attend, and how they show up can affect the group as a whole and the success of a session. This episode provides guidance for what leaders should be doing before, during, and after a meeting to help achieve outcomes and harness the wisdom of their team.

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Whether your team needs help remembering information or navigating the complexities of virtual meetings, you can take on a meeting support role to level up the effectiveness of your team’s meeting. In this episode, Lauren breaks down the need for meeting notes and tips for taking them effectively, and guest Heather Martinez discusses the rold of tech host.

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EPI...

Sometimes, the best way to deal with conflict, is to stop and listen. In this episode, we’ll reframe our understanding of conflict and explore practical strategies for managing it effectively, whether you're the facilitator or a participant.

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EPISODE RESOURCES:
Book Notes: Don't Just Do Something, Stand There (blog)
Don't Just Do Someth...

By identifying patterns in the conversation of your meeting, you can take action to keep things balanced and productive. In this episode, we go over the Kantor model, a tool you can use to track conversations and gain insight into group dynamics.

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EPISODE RESOURCES:
Reading the Room - Channeling the Power of Group Dynamics (video by Brian Tarallo)
CLIP...

Get ready to test your knowledge in this Jeopardy-style episode inspired by the Not Past It podcast. In this episode, we unpack a facilitator’s toolkit of simple verbal tools that anyone in a meeting can use to improve communication, encourage diverse voices, and enhance the meeting experience.

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Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decisi...

Participant etiquette can make or break the success of a meeting. In this episode, we challenge you to rethink your approach to meetings with suggestions on mindset, being present, dealing with dominating personalities, and more.

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EPISODE RESOURCES:
TMS S2E2: Can We Just Have a Meeting? (podcast episode)
Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing...

Group and team dynamics can have a huge impact on the success of a meeting. In this episode, we discuss power dynamics, the role of conflict styles and groupthink, and introduce you to the Team Dimensions Profile, a tool for assessing team roles. 

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EPISODE RESOURCES:
Quiet by Susan Cain (book)

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In today's hectic work environment, where back-to-back meetings and unexpected challenges are the norm, managing yourself is the key to success. In this episode, we cover three tools for understanding how people work and interact in different situations: Myers-Briggs Type Theory, DiSC Work Styles Assessment, and the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI).

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Welcome to Season 3, MeetingMakers! This season is for anyone who participates in meetings with a desire to make them suck less. In this episode, we’ll give you an overview of what to expect in Season 3—focused on improving meetings through modeling etiquette, making space for others, and playing a support role when needed.

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Reinventing...

You don’t need a three-day offsite in the woods to improve your team’s performance. It's much easier (and more effective) to bake debrief meetings into your team meeting rhythms so you can learn and grow from setbacks and successes. This episode covers an easy process you can use to start building a learning team.

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What Is OD And The Action Resea...

Most presentations are boring and unmemorable, but there are techniques you can pull from meeting facilitation to make your presentations more engaging and effective. In this episode, we dive into tips for planning your presentation, telling a story, engaging your audience and utilizing visuals.

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EPISODE RESOURCES:
Lead with a Story by Paul Smith (book*)
Dancing W...

Conflict in meetings is normal, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. In this special guest episode, certified meditator Gina Weatherup offers her top tips for managing conflict at work. Plus, Lauren gives her suggestions for giving feedback in the moment rather than waiting for a performance review.

⭐️ Connect with Gina Weatherup ⭐️

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EPISODE RESOURCES:
Nonviolent...