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Stop Disrespecting Your Coworkers’ Time in Meetings
Multitasking on a call, setting a meeting with no agenda, and inviting the wrong people are great ways to waste everyone’s time
A lack of respect can turn small details into big deals, and can cost your company a great deal. Building superior leadership teams means recruiting candidates who are not only qualified, but those who know how to convey respect for their colleagues. This is more critical than ever as we continue to adapt to an increasingly virtual world and increasingly rely on our digital body language skills. Let me explain.
I’ll never forget a 30-minute phone call I once had with four colleagues in which the host waited until approximately the 26th minute to ask, “Does anyone on the line have any thoughts?” Up until then, instead of taking advantage of the four subject matter experts he had on the call, he’d spent most of the meeting lecturing us! Not only did he come across as rude and self-centered (okay, he was rude and self-centered), but by not allowing anyone else to say anything, he was short-changing himself.
Anyone can create new norms and rituals to help ensure a company’s culture puts a premium on recognition and respect.
