timbuk2’s meetings were featured in a business week article how to make meetings matter
“The sun was glaring through the windows, forcing many to shield their eyes. You couldn’t tell who was in charge. Some people were called on to give status reports didn’t have anything to report,” he says. “There was no mention of Timbuk2’s product or its customers. There was no food. One person fell asleep.”
the article goes on to explain how things have improved..
Perhaps the single most important change he made was to delegate the planning and the running of the meeting to his office manager, Keri Sedor. As a practical matter, this allowed him to stay focused on big-picture issues, but it also shifted the dynamic of the gathering. Because Sedor is closer to the staff than members of the executive team, she’s better able to solicit ideas or tap into issues that need airing. The Sedor-run meetings are also more collaborative, in part because employees feel comfortable asking her questions.
i’ll let you know if i find out who it was who fell asleep!
