Here's how you can conduct effective meetings as a Servant Leader.

I aim to conduct effective meetings by setting clear objectives and sharing agendas in advance. I foster a safe and respectful environment for participation and actively listen to team members. I facilitate discussions without dominating them, encourage collaborative problem-solving, and focus on solutions. I respect everyone’s time, starting and ending meetings punctually and staying on topic. I summarize key points and follow up on action items, creating an atmosphere of trust and encouragement. I remain adaptable to the team’s needs and continually seek feedback for improvement. Rooted in humility, active listening, and diligent planning, these practices ensure meetings are productive, uplifting, & aligned with values of serving others.

As a Servant Leader, I strive to create an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas. In meetings, this means ensuring that everyone has an opportunity to speak, and that all voices are heard and respected. This not only fosters a sense of inclusion but can also lead to more innovative solutions and better decision-making.

Running effective meetings requires careful preparation and a clear focus on the needs of the team. Start by defining a clear objective for the meeting and creating a structured agenda that is provided to participants in advance. During the meeting, encourage an open and respectful atmosphere by actively listening and ensuring that all voices are heard. It is important to focus on the most important topics and steer discussions in a focussed way to avoid wasting time. You can encourage participation by asking questions and seeking input from everyone involved. So you can ensure inclusive decision-making. At the end summarise the points discussed and actions agreed and ensure that responsibilities and deadlines are clearly defined.

Here’s how I support and empower my team: 1. Involve only necessary people, start and end on time, and wrap up within 30-60 minutes unless it’s a working meeting. 2. Use an agenda, stay focused, table non-agenda items, and don’t waste time will filler chat. 3. Ensure meetings lead to actionable decisions and leave with clear next steps. Get in, get out, get it done! 4. Don’t recreate the worst memories of high school classrooms. Instead, consider each person’s perspective for greater buy-in and bolder pursuits. We don’t need consensus but we also don’t need bully zones. 5. After meetings, follow up on action items, answer questions, and provide support where needed. A quick video/audio message or memo can clarify any “muddy” points.

To conduct effective meetings as a Servant Leader, creating a supportive environment where participants feel valued and encouraged to contribute is key. Essential practices include defining clear objectives, preparing an agenda, encouraging open communication, facilitating discussions, promoting decision-making through consensus, ensuring accountability with follow-up actions, and evaluating and improving meeting processes. Servant Leaders should welcome participation, stick to the agenda, manage time effectively, foster constructive debate, document meeting minutes, follow up on action items, and solicit feedback for continuous improvement, resulting in productive and collaborative team meetings.

This step is crucial and in my opinion is what can really differentiate a servant leader from a person who isn’t. Being willing to recognize the value of other’s opinions and perspectives as well as different approaches to accomplishing a task than your own, requires humility. It states that it is not “my way or the highway” and allows others to feel like they matter, which they do. Lastly, we must implement the suggestions or feedback given to further reiterate that we are willing to not only listen, but take action on their thoughts.

I often experience an instinctive negative reaction when the term "fair" is invoked. The concept of "fairness" lacks an objective standard and will inevitably hold different meanings for different individuals. However, if in this context, "fair" implies ensuring an environment that remains respectful, open, honest, and provides equal opportunity for all to contribute, then I wholeheartedly embrace it.

Make sure everyone feels included and listen actively to all voices. Guide the discussion without dominating it, and ask questions to encourage dialogue.

In my experience the importance of creating an environment of “owning a meeting” is crucial. Everyone in the meeting needs to know why they particularly are invited to the meeting. What is their contribution and, therefore, responsibility. Participants then need to come prepared to fulfil on that role. Practicing leadership, in this case, revolves around empowering people to step in, step up and cause some tangible results in such a way that they feel valued and appreciated.

Meeting discussions without setting responsibles, deadlines is not oblige participants to put their effort for building progress. Tracking and support in follow up actions meets commitments and increase value of meetings. It can be done through fixing Minute of meeting and Evidence Report to close out actions.

If you follow up on the points discussed and measures agreed and provide regular feedback, you will strengthen commitment and collaboration within the team. This ultimately leads to more productive and effective meetings.

Being open to learning for team concerns makes you welcome for leading further meeting, because you learn how to line-up actions and resources. Each member of meeting has unique experience and it could be given a chance to speak out. It requires efforts to interpret/adopt good experience into current project needs.

While having an agenda for a meeting is undoubtedly beneficial, I've learned that sometimes it's necessary to deviate from it when an "elephant in the room" demands attention. Rigidly adhering to the agenda can be counterproductive if there are pressing issues or concerns that need to be addressed. I've uncovered and solved some of the most serious issues by remaining flexible.

What has worked well for us is to always include an “outlier” in the team. Someone who is not an obvious subject matter expert or has extensive experience with the project. These people often prove valuable for their fresh input and different perspective on the matter. I believe this willingness to question assumptions, develop and practice growth mindset is a great leadership skill.

As a servant leader, it is important that you first realise that you want to serve the team and promote its development. To run effective meetings, you should have clear objectives and a well-structured agenda that is communicated in advance so that all participants can prepare. Active listening is essential during the meeting. Encourage all team members to express their opinions and ideas. It is important that everyone can participate. Ensure strict time management to show respect for participants' time and increase efficiency. At the end of the meeting, clear responsibilities and next steps should be defined so that everyone knows what is expected of them.

Starting with a clear agenda helps maintain focus and maximize efficiency. Keep discussions concise to ensure everyone stays engaged and productive.

It is important to understand that there are different personas during a meeting, inclusiveness is one criteria I consider during meeting. including very participant in the team during a meeting will not only give you the insight you require the solve the need the meeting was created for but also see how other underlying issues can be solved.