Developing Your Senior Staff: Let Them Run Meetings

One underrated but important aspect of an organisation is its ability to run effective meetings. Problems are identified and strategies are put in place to chart a successful way into the future.

In smaller businesses invariably the most senior person (the owner or CEO) runs these meetings.

As business owner or CEO, it is well worth thinking about allowing your senior staff to conduct and lead these meetings.

Everyone benefits

Firstly, one of the key assets in a business is its people. Enabling them to learn an important skill will add to the depth of your staff. It will also give these managers credibility and respect within the organisation which enhances their commitment to the business.

Secondly, a business is more sustainable and profitable when management and staff act in unison. Getting leadership’s vision to filter all the way down the organisation is critical. Up-skilling your senior staff will add to this process and will spread your vision throughout the company.

As a CEO you are often more effective as a participant in a meeting, as not running allows you to be more focused. You can ensure the meeting sticks to significant matters by making critical interventions when necessary.

Finally, the fact that you can delegate important tasks fosters teamwork and gets buy-in from your staff.

Who to appoint

This is really a judgment call but clearly you should select people with development potential, good communicators who have empathy and facilitation skills. The person selected to run a particular meeting should be objective so consider, say, using a marketing person to facilitate a human resource issue.

Letting your managers run meetings is a cost-effective way to improve management skills and to build a more effective company.