Often, these CEOs run their ELT Meetings with a “Tell” Meeting Structure. They go around the room and everyone “tells” the group what they’re doing and accomplishing and possibly some issues they’re facing.

There’s no discussion, no problem solving, no brainstorming, no real interaction of any kind.  “Tell” meetings aren’t working meetings, they are listening meetings.  And, the passivity they create and condone is a bad organizational precedent.  Usually “Tell” Meeting topics could be shared with a couple of bullet points in an email, which would be a much more efficient use of an Executive team’s time.

The “Tell” Meeting Structure doesn’t utilize the Executives’ collective wisdom, doesn’t promote cross-functional problem solving, doesn’t develop relationships, and doesn’t promote big-picture or strategic thinking.

And, it doesn’t produce anything. Most effective executive leadership team meetings have a product that comes out of them, e.g., a flowchart, a cause & effect diagram, another type of document, action items, a decision, a timeline, project plan, task list with assigned responsibilities, a list of ideas.

Luckily, this organizational resource management pitfall (wasted Executive time), can be corrected by using a meeting structure that fully utilizes the team’s technical and organizational knowledge, mental acuity, emotional intelligence, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.

Meetings that are structured and well-run will more likely be a productive use of a Leadership team’s time.

Below are some sample ELT Meeting Agendas that can help you lead more effective executive leadership team meetings: