Meetings

Charles Schwab learned his executive and managerial skills under Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie may have been among the hardest-nosed of hard-nosed bosses. He demanded outstanding performance from all his associates all of the time.

Once Schwab was particularly pleased with some work he had done while on a business trip. He wired his boss, “all previous records broken yesterday.” Pleased with the results of his accomplishments and hoping that the telegram sent would earn him a commendation or two, Schwab waited expectantly for the wonderful reply that would be coming from his boss. And sure enough it came as Carnegie wired back. And the telegram said, “What have you done today?” 

There will always be hard-nosed bosses all over the place and they are difficult to be with. They’re not inspiring and they make it their career to intimidate which reminds me of another story.

During a conference a domineering businessman got himself into a towering rage. One of his assistants pleaded with him to be calm adding, “if you’re not careful, you’ll get ulcers.” “Get them,” stormed the man, “nonsense, I give them!” 

Most of us do not own the companies we work for; and can ill afford to display such an attitude in meetings and conferences. That’s why one of the first things intelligent executives or managers learn is how to conduct themselves at the conference table. It’s important to their future, and it can open the door to bigger opportunities or to shunt them to the side.

Listen to this advice offered to us by that witty booklet entitled, “Bits and Pieces.” Meetings and conferences are an important part of the management process. Leaders sit down together in the hope that, through exchanging ideas and opinions, they can reach a wiser decision, which is better understood and more acceptable to every one concerned.

The fruitfulness of any conference depends to a large extent on the attitudes of the participants. For example:

• Do you usually enter the meeting determined to convince the others that your point of view is the correct one? Or are you simply prepared to present what facts you can to help reach a correct decision?

• Do you assume you already know what the others are going to say and spend your time thinking only of rebuttals and what you want to say? Or do you really listen to others and try to appreciate their positions?

• Do you view meetings as primarily a chance to air your own opinions? Or do you confine your comments to those you feel are necessary and helpful?

• Do you like to get your opinion on the record as quickly as possible? Or do you give the others a chance to talk first?

• Do you like to tell the other participants immediately where you stand, then force them to try to dislodge you? Or are you careful not to take a position until all evidence is in, confining your remarks to giving and getting information?

• Do you battle for the interests of your own department regardless of the consequences? Or do you always without exception put the best interests of the company first?

If you don’t know, for sure, which of the above attitudes are the better ones, maybe it’s time for a little introspection. It could lead to bigger and better things in your future. 

I guess the key is this: the scriptures present Jesus as teaching people the right attitude towards approaching a banquet table. In it he says that you are not to position yourself so that you end up sitting in the best seat on the table. Because the host might come and ask you to take another seat that’s inferior and that would cause you embarrassment. I can’t help but notice some practical relevance of this to the way we should approach the conference table. The essence of this lesson is that we are not to approach the conference table with our own pride and agenda because in doing so, we are merely promoting that which is beneficial to us.

A selfish approach to the table will never be beneficial to every one in the long run. If you’re the boss, you’re not to use the conference table to show your supremacy and badger those who are below you. If you are an executive, you are not to approach the table with selfish ambitions because the company would suffer as a consequence of this. Approach the conference table with great humility. With an “Others-centered approach” rather than a “self-centered” approach. Figuring that everything done in this attitude will reap great benefits to every one concerned.1 

(Click on to www.franciskong.com and send me your feedback or you can also listen to my radio program “Business Matters” aired 8:00a.m. and 6:30 p.m. weekdays over 98.7 dzFE-FM ‘The Master’s Touch’, the classical music station.)