Quick Quiz: What’s Your Style as a Meeting Leader?
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** You will need to
print out the survey form, as on-line scoring is not currently
available. **
This Quick Quiz provides
a general idea of your approach to leading a meeting. Two different
styles are described at the end of the quiz. For each item below,
distribute 3 points between choices (A) and (B).
Use whole numbers, not 1.5.
Example: If you feel that (A) is almost always
true of you, give 3 points to (A) and none to (B).
If (A) is often true, but (B) is also sometimes true,
give 2 points to (A) and 1 point to (B).
1. A.
I start meetings on time.
B. I start
meetings once everyone has arrived.
2. A.
At the beginning of a meeting, I quickly get to the most important
agenda items.
B. At the
beginning of a meeting, I give people time to get acquainted or chat
about recent events.
3. A.
I plan the agenda before the meeting and stick to it.
B. I let the
agenda develop during the meeting based on people’s needs and concerns.
4. A.
I keep the amount of discussion under control during the meeting.
B. I allow people the time they need to freely share
thoughts and ideas.
5. A.
I clearly define each issue to be discussed.
B. I ask
group members to elaborate on issues as they arise.
6. A.
When people get off the subject, I quickly bring the discussion back to
the agenda.
B. I let the
discussion go where people feel they need to take it.
7. A.
I assume that people who are quiet do not wish to participate.
B. I
encourage people who are quiet to join the discussion.
8. A.
I try to keep conflicts to a minimum during meetings.
B. I prefer
free expression of disagreements and differences.
9. A.
I like for meetings to be focused and businesslike.
B. I like for
people to joke and share humorous stories.
10.
A. I encourage the group to reach a decision even if some members
disagree.
B. I prefer
to postpone action until group members have reached a consensus.
§
Total for (A) responses:
0
15
30
Low Task Focus
High Task Focus
§
Total for (B) responses:
0
15
30
Low Member
Focus
High Member Focus
All material on
yourofficecoach.com is copyrighted to Marie G. McIntyre. All rights
reserved.
May be reproduced
with copyright and attribution to
www.yourofficecoach.com.
In general, Task-focused
Leaders concentrate on the work to be done, while Member-focused Leaders
pay attention to people in the group. If you have a high score (20-30)
in one category, then you may be likely to use that style most of the
time. A moderate score (10-20) in both categories may mean that you
tend to be focused on tasks in some situations and members in others.
The most effective
meeting leaders balance the focus on tasks and members, shifting their
style as needed.
Strengths and weaknesses
of each meeting leading style are summarized below.
|
|
STRENGTHS |
WEAKNESSES |
|
Task-focused Leaders |
§
Clearly define the
goals of the meeting.
§
Provide a specific
agenda for discussion.
§
Make efficient use
of time.
§
Keep the group
focused on the topic.
§
Prevent conflicts
from getting out of hand.
§
Reach decisions
without undue delay.
|
§
May not develop a
“team feeling” in the group.
§
May not find out
about members’ current concerns.
§
May cut off
discussion before all relevant information has been shared.
§
May not hear all
useful ideas and opinions.
§
May find after the
meeting that some members do not support a decision.
|
|
Member-focused Leaders |
§
Create a sense of
rapport in the group.
§
Allow members to
get to know each other.
§
Insure that
current concerns are addressed.
§
Encourage
expression of new ideas.
§
Try to get input
from everyone.
§
Promote consensus
in the group.
|
§
May inadvertently
encourage members to arrive late.
§
May waste time on
irrelevant topics.
§
May frustrate
members with long, unfocused meetings.
§
May allow
conflicts to get out of hand.
§
May delay
decision-making unnecessarily.
|
Helpful
links related to this topic on Your Office Coach:
§
“Leading Productive Meetings” at http://yourofficecoach.com/Topics/leading_a_productive_meeting.htm
§
“Making Successful Presentations” at http://yourofficecoach.com/Topics/making_successful_presentations.htm
|
