What can we learn from the Constitutional Convention of 1787? We can learn how the founding fathers, of all differing viewpoints, came together and created a document that is still the foundation of America today, in the most important meeting in history.
A recent post on Fast Company explains how our founding fathers accomplished such a feat. The explanation provides excellent tips for you to follow to lead an effective and successful meeting.
The Constitution was a lasting creation because of the following meeting rules:
1. Have a real reason for the meeting
The amount of unnecessary meetings in the course of your career may be the exact reason why you have rarely witnessed a successful one. Be sure to call for meetings at appropriate times with an intended purpose. Less frequent meetings of greater importance will help to engage employees.
2. Invite the right employees
For the Constitutional Convention, each state was asked to determine who would be the best representative to sit in the meeting. Like the Convention, having the right attendees at a business meeting will prove to be the most effective. Include the most relevant players in the specific decision-making process and leave out the irrelevant employees who would rather be checking items off of their “to-do” lists than wasting their time in a meeting that does not pertain to them.
3. Have a plan
According to the post, the “Virginia Plan” was created in advance by the Convention leaders. Coming to a meeting unprepared will only irritate those in attendance and cause for an unproductive gathering. An organized and well-thought-out plan will reach your audience the best.
4. Be a facilitator, not a dictator
Like George Washington, choose to be the facilitator rather than the dictator in a business meeting. As a meeting leader, it is your job to be sure everyone’s voices are heard and differing opinions are explained.
5. Lobby post-meeting
Though you tried your best to facilitate and lead the meeting members to a compromise, there are likely to be employees dissatisfied with the end result, just as some delegates were with the Constitution. Once the meeting is complete, support still needs to be gained for the end decision.
For the full list of rules learned by our founding fathers, check out the great post.
When planning your next meeting, take into consideration rules abided by the leaders of our past. In all due respect, they were the ones responsible for creating a founding document still in effect today.
Do you have any tips to add for orchestrating a successful meeting? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!
