What Happened

Yesterday I held an important annual meeting at work. Last year we only did it with one shareholder and a consultant. This year I wanted to bring in the managers for consultation. I invited everyone except 2 managers – since they were already being represented by someone else in their division.

I have really pissed some people off. It’s a meeting that no one ever wanted to be part of. If I had invited people, it’s likely they would not have joined. It’s only the fact that they were not invited. But yup – they’re pissed.

I think he feels excluded, he’s made so many mistakes in the last few months, and is being isolated from the team. When I didn’t invite him, it hit a big nerve. Truth is, I don’t really care, his opinion, his feelings his contributions have become less and less important overtime. I don’t know how to care, but I also don’t want people to feel this way and the culture of the company to change.

My Ego & Defensiveness

My fault in this is also my ego, having him question why he wasn’t invited, made me puff up my chest and dismiss him even more. I know how they look at me, as someone not deserving, the wrong colour, the wrong sex, not experienced. I let it get to me and asserted my authority.

I will be asking my boss a favour in this 12 month journey

If I forget where I came from, if my ego is getting inflated – pull me up

Giving an A to people around me – has to be my guiding star.

I don’t want to be that person who goes into attack mode because I’m defensive. I need to take the punches cool and calm.

STOICISM. Breathe. In. Breath. Out. Barack Obama. Bob Iger. Mark. Amanda.

Me

Controlling Narratives

On another point I want to talk about meetings and how important it is to get the right voices in a meeting.

In the few meetings I held, there was a narrative of whining and negativity. But stepping back it was being pushed by few people who were the extroverted assertive and in this case older people. I wonder how much of the narrative was guided by them and if other people spoke up first, the meeting would have gone another way.

I have noticed a tendency to bring out the problems – its in my nature to think of the worst case scenario. Which is not a problem but its not balanced and more importantly the true way to do things.

What can I do?

• Figure out what the purpose of the meeting is (WHAT IS IT FOR? altMBA)
• Decide what level of employees are to be involved
• Decide what they should be contributing
• Send an agenda and ask them to reply with notes prior to
• Double check if you are excluding anyone

Give ourselves an A – What is a perfect meeting?

• Clear purpose so everyone knows what we are trying to achieve together
• Positivity
• A sense of – let’s do this together!
• Solution based – what steps can I focus on? How can you contribute? What resources do I need?
• Accountbility
• Honesty with real respect

Keep learning, you’re doing a fucking good job!