5 Topics to Discuss Regularly with Your Leadership Team

A company that silos critical business functions is destined for failure. Successful leadership teams facilitate the sharing of information across business functions. This effective communication creates a sense of trust across leadership teams, ensures high morale, positively impacts workflows, and ultimately generates a positive customer experience. And when an organization’s employees see its leadership team collaborating effectively, there’s a high probability that the entire organization will be working towards the greater good of the organization instead of exclusively for personal motivations. Here are five topics that the management team should regularly discuss in their periodic meetings to create harmony across business units along with successful business outcomes.

1. Quarterly Objectives and Leadership Performance – A leadership meeting provides the perfect opportunity to review the progress of your company’s short-term goals. As Peter Drucker once said, “What gets measured gets done”. Leaders across all business units need to present key performance indicators in an effort to create a foundation for decision making, focus attention on what’s most important, and to allow for strategic and operational transformation.  
2. Major Wins, Losses, and Insights – It’s important to celebrate wins. There’s nothing worse than a company with a “yes, but what have you done for me today” mentality. Leaders need to share important wins with their peers and celebrate those wins with their employees. Along with wins, it’s critical to share any letdowns that occurred since the last leadership meeting. Remember, the team is there to support every member and to strategize on ways to turn a loss into a future win. Insights from your leadership team are priceless and can come from leftfield. Don’t be surprised when marketing leadership comes up with a unique solution for a problem HR has been experiencing. Never stop building each other up. 
3. Perception of Your Product in the Market – Leaders would be wise to keep their finger on the pulse of the market and shifting product perceptions. Marketing and sales have the ability to provide the greatest insights. It’s these important insights that will impact the product roadmap and various business units.
4. Customers – Every senior leader in an organization should have crystal clear knowledge of the company’s most important customers along with their experiences with your product. Based on the customer success team’s data and documentation, you must discuss your customers’ likes and dislikes. This further enhances the leadership team’s ability to positively influence the product roadmap and customer service operations. 
5. Team – A strong leadership team is crucial for steering your company towards success. Leadership teams must have a sense of self-awareness, a clear idea of who’s performing well, who needs to be acknowledged, and if anyone on the team is experiencing frustration or underperforming. If anyone appears to be struggling, approach them with compassion. We’re all human and we all struggle sometimes. It’s also crucial for your leadership team to be aware of high performers and rising stars. The company will ultimately benefit from employees with strong institutional knowledge that can eventually fill a seat within the wider leadership team.

Obviously, leadership meetings are critical. Schedule them at a frequency that makes sense for your organization’s needs as they’ll help alleviate complications, impact corporate growth, and propel your company forward. If your leadership team is in need of a stellar executive or if you’re on an executive job search and interested in joining a company that embraces the points mentioned above, check out SucceedSmart. With our cutting-edge executive search software, we’re revolutionizing the traditional executive search industry for both executives and hiring managers.

FAQs:

1. What makes a good leadership team meeting?

A good leadership team meeting is all about focus and results. A clear agenda keeps everyone on track, while pre-circulated materials ensure everyone arrives prepared. The discussions should be strategic, focused on big-picture decisions and problem-solving, not just updates. And finally, strong leadership keeps the conversation flowing and ensures clear action items are assigned to move forward.

2. What to do in a leadership meeting?

In a leadership meeting, come prepared! Review the pre-circulated agenda and materials. Actively participate in discussions, focusing on solutions and strategic decision-making. Don’t be afraid to share your ideas, but respect others’ time by keeping comments concise. The goal is to collaborate, move the needle forward, and walk out with clear action items to hold everyone accountable.

3. What are the 5 P’s of a meeting agenda?

The 5 P’s of a meeting agenda are a handy tool to ensure your meeting is productive:

• Purpose: Define the clear goal of the meeting. What do you want to achieve?
• Participants: Invite only the essential people who can contribute or make decisions.
• Plan: Craft a clear agenda with timings for each topic and pre-circulate it for everyone to come prepared.
• Participation: Encourage active discussion and focus on solutions, not just updates.
• Progress: Conclude with clear action items assigned to individuals for follow-up.

4. What are the best leadership qualities?

The best leadership qualities are a blend of character and competence. A strong leader has integrity and inspires trust. They possess a clear vision and can effectively communicate it. They’re strategic thinkers who can make sound decisions and navigate challenges. But they also value people, fostering a positive and inclusive work environment. Empathy, good communication, and the ability to delegate are all essential for a leader’s success.