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***Register for the Meetings with Saints Virtual Summit*** Dr. Steven G. Rogelberg is a Professor of Organizational Science, Management, and Psychology at UNC Charlotte. The author of The Surprising Science of Meetings: How You Can Lead Your Team to Peak Performance, he is a distinguished scholar addressing issues such as team effectiveness, leadership, engagement, health and employee well-being, meetings at work, and organizational research methods. The book is a culmination of 15 years of research and thousands of surveys and interviews. It’s a collection of evidence-based insights and represents a strategic approach that leaders and organizations can take that’s highly practical and accessible, but also strongly based in science. In this interview, Steve talks with Kurt about applying the insights from his book to improving meetings in the Church environment—a sneak-peek into the upcoming Meetings With Saints Virtual Summit which begins March 17th, 2020. 
Highlights
5:00 We know one thing but tend to do a different thing, but there is no formula for meeting success. Instead the key is making good choices, which is more empowering. 7:00 Steve’s experience with members of the Church 8:15 The cost of meetings is underestimated 11:00 Being self-aware as a meeting leader: stewardship and making changes 13:40 Things to reflect on that are signs that there needs to be improvement 14:30 Start with a quick survey, then work on the little things and assess later 17:00 Talking as the leader vs. leading the discussion 20:00 Transparency and honesty allows you to lead from the back or the front in a genuine way 21:10 Three phases of the meeting: planning/designing, facilitating, and post-meeting activity 21:50 Planning a meeting is not time consuming and has a high return on investment 23:45 Taking a “pre-mortem” moment before the meeting 25:00 Agendas are a hollow crutch: what matters most is what is on that agenda and how it is facilitated
- Frame the agenda as a set of questions to be answered
- Allow other people to different agenda items
- Put the most important/compelling issues first
30:10 Parkinson’s Law: Work expands to fill whatever time is allotted
- How much time should it take? Dial it back a bit and create time pressure
- Volunteer time is a precious gift: build trust by respecting it
35:00 Combating minutiae in meetings by making meeting time incredibly purposeful 38:00 Councils and update meetings
- What is a good update? Decide and then put people on the clock
- Silent updates via a shared document
41:20 Silence in a meeting is a way of engaging people 44:25 Technology in a meeting: multitasking is a symptom of a bad meeting
- Keep meeting minutes in real time on the screen instead of a powerpoint
- People focused on their phones is actually feedback
47:00 Avoiding the meeting that should have been an email
- Recording your voice with the message you want to give and sending it out
- Start the meeting with questions about the message(s) you sent out
49:30 Presentations in meetings: have the person write their ideas in a document, then discuss it in the meeting 51:30 Where to find his book and research on the science of meetings
Links
Register for the Meetings with Saints Virtual Summit stevenrogelberg.com The Surprising Science of Meetings: How You Can Lead Your Team to Peak Performance, by Steven Rogelberg
I just wanted to say Thank You to Kurt and any one and every one else who in responsible for the podcast. I’m here as a member of your faith but most recently as a newly appointed PTA president. What?! Why? Because I listened to a very strong command by the sprit one winter morning driving through the car drop off line at my kid’s school. I was still in my sweaty work out attire when the spirit said “Park, get out, go in and tell them you’ll lead the PTA.” To be honest I thought it was pretty bold of the spirit because at the time I was not aware they even NEEDED a new PTA President. Also I’ve never lead anything a day in my life. I’m trying to keep 5 tiny humans alive, work part time, and keep my amazing husband who is a Executive Director/Stake Presidency Member from drowning. The principal was shocked and elated when I walked in and said: “I’m here. I’m completely unqualified, but I’m in, I’ll do it.” ?
This was 3 months ago. By divine guidance I found your podcast -through Jody Moore’s podcast- the next day! I’ve been listening and learning ever since!
This podcast, the interviews, links, and knowledge shared have given me such amazing insight about leading. Things I never knew before that I always admired about the great leaders I so desperately wanted to be like. Thank you again! I tell everyone I know about your podcast and I share the link daily.