Manager Meetings

Short and Sweet

We should remember that how we communicate in a meeting with employees is powerful enough to drive a business into the ground.
It also could allow a business to succeed to amazing heights. Clarity from the sender to the receiver is imperative.
A manager needs to be aware of a few things when conducting a meeting with employees. Most of the time the communicator is focused on sending out information with little regard of clearness to the receiver. It’s important for employees to understand the content; they need to understand what is being said. Giving examples about a subject is effective because it allows the employees to associate with something or relate to.

Also note that everyone learns differently. For instance if I’m going to acquire new information effectively I will be most successful if I hear it, read it, and write it. I’m amazed at the people who can learn new information instantly, retain it and recall it at will.
Another suggestion is to take notes at a meeting so there is something to refer to when the manager is not available to help the new employees. And it doesn’t usually do any good to ask a coworker because they may have heard the wrong information and didn’t bother to ask for a clear explanation. Now there’s a potential disaster!

The meeting should be brief, have a comfortable atmosphere to enable questions (and yes, there are NO stupid questions!) and have a manager who is approachable for further explanations. It doesn’t matter how many times the manager asks if everybody understands. If the atmosphere is not conducive to a level of comfort a shy employee would rather “wing it” instead of taking the chance of looking like a fool.

I’ve learned to take a chance and ask questions in a meeting rather than look like a fool on the floor in front of customers/members or worse, the general manager!
That nauseated feeling of looking inept is something I will avoid at all costs; asking questions in a meeting has become minor.
When employees are well informed and perform well it reflects on them, on the management team and ultimately the general manager. Let it be a wonderful domino effect not a disastrous one.

I’m certain we’ve all had that feeling of satisfaction and contentment at work.
It’s when everyone is at the top of their game with the information needed to be successful. It’s when body language is fitting, the atmosphere is light and pleasing, everyone is walking with a sense of purpose and helping each other.

And before you realize it your shift is over and you’re looking forward to tomorrow.