The One Meeting You Shouldn't Skip

I know, I know. You don’t need another meeting to attend. But this one is critically important to the success of your team and your company. If your team isn’t healthy, no one will succeed.

We all spend so much time in meetings that solve problems (or try to), provide project updates, or communicate some secret message to the troops, that thinking about having another meeting may just turn your stomach. But a team health meeting doesn’t have to take long and will improve the return on your investment many times over.

A team health meeting is one in which you do a quick check in to ensure that the team is on track with its team charter. It’s a way to ensure communication isn’t getting bungled up and that things are running smoothly within the team. Good team health meetings are dependent upon a high level of trust within your team which will build over time.

You should have a team health meeting at least once a week for 30 minutes and there should be one item on the agenda — How Is Our Team Functioning? Do not allow discussions on other topics to intrude in this meeting. If topics surface, put them in a parking lot to address some other time. Stay focused on how the team is functioning, address any team health issues and close the meeting out until next time.

One of the things we typically pay the least attention to is how our team members function together. Having regular team health meetings to address how well the team is working will help minimize having to react to team issues. You’ll nip them in the bud before they can even come to the surface.

What do you think? Willing to try team health meetings in your company? Tell me why or why not by leaving a comment.