Of little values

How do you start your meetings?

You are waiting for the meeting to start. You are all coming in the room or on screen. Maybe there's a little banter before the agenda items kick-off. Or perhaps you are finishing some work that needs to be done. An agenda is read while people sort through documents or think about something else. There is no agenda, and the leader starts talking about an article they read this week that seems to take up most of the meeting, and you never get to talk about stuff you are doing.

It is time for a thoughtful new beginning that recognises the human beings in the room. This is a small way to show that you value the people you work with. It's not just about recognising the work people do but also appreciating who they are and the unique contributions they bring to our collective space.

It can be as simple as a heartfelt statement and eye contact that ensures everyone is seen. Something like, "Thank you all for being here. I look forward to your contributions today." But it can't be perfunctory. You've got to mean it.

If you are not leading the meeting or if your team isn't up for this sort of thing, then do it yourself. Silently look around the room and acknowledge the best thing about each person and what they bring—yep, even the annoying people.

We demonstrate our values and how we value others through small actions. So try these out and see the difference they make to the connections and outcomes of your meetings. Or maybe they just make you feel a little bit good inside.