Engaging Everyone in Meetings
January 17, 2023
The universal purposes of meetings are to share information and make decisions. The best decision-making meetings engage all attendees in the discussion. Yet, attendees sometimes offer so many ideas there is no time left to make a decision. Or, the push to make a decision quickly doesn’t offer space for the sharing of relevant information. If you are wondering how your next meeting can address both aspects of an effective meeting, read on.
- Be clear on the purpose of the meeting by precisely stating what you want to achieve by the end.
- Then, divide the attendees into groups of 2 to 4 and give them a specific task. For example, ‘List 5 benefits of the merger we are considering” or ‘List 3 program ideas for our monthly meetings”.
- Ask the small group members to list their ideas on a flipchart in large print. Post them at the front of the room.
- Ask the participants to identify ideas that appear on multiple flipcharts and list the themes on a summary flipchart.
- Now that everyone has thought about the topic at hand, shared their ideas, and heard diverse input, dig a little deeper. Encourage whole room discussion by asking open-ended questions such as “What value will this idea add to the project?” or “How can we access these resources”.
- After there has been some discussion around each theme on the summary flipchart, ask “What questions or concerns haven’t been addressed yet?”
- Now attendees are likely ready for a vote or a consensus decision.
Since all meeting attendees have been involved and informed, they are more likely to buy-in to the decision and support its implementation. Engaging meetings are a great success for the organization and the team members!
Rosabeth Moss Kanter, a respected professor at Harvard Business School, has spent her career connecting the dots between leadership and economic innovation. Her work shows that developing strong leaders doesn’t just benefit companies—it creates ripple effects that boost entire communities and economies. Effective leaders encourage teamwork, spark innovation, and help their organizations adapt to change. That kind of forward-thinking leadership attracts investment, drives productivity, and supports long-term growth. Kanter believes leadership isn’t a soft skill—it’s a strategic asset. She famously said, “Strategic leadership is an economic resource,” reminding us that developing talent is more than an HR initiative—it’s an engine for prosperity. But good leaders aren’t born overnight. Building strong leadership takes training, mentorship, and a commitment to continuous learning. And when businesses and governments make that investment, the rewards show up as better jobs, stronger institutions, and thriving local economies. Kanter’s research is clear: the path to economic progress starts with leadership development. If we want innovation and growth, we need people equipped to lead with vision and impact. 👉 Want to explore this connection further? Check out: How Good Leadership Helps Innovation and Growth
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