When was the last time your team skipped your team meeting or was cancelled because something perceived as more important popped up? Did this happen one time or multiple times in a row? Or, is it hard to recall the last time you had a formal team meeting? This can happen when the team does not put the same emphasis on internal team meetings as it does on external client meetings. Both types of meetings are extremely important to the health of your business, so consider implementing a team meeting strategy.

Daily huddle meetings, weekly and monthly meetings, and quarterly planning sessions are all necessary. Also, consider implementing an annual offsite meeting that includes celebrating the past year's accomplishments and goal-setting for the upcoming year. If these meetings are scheduled, and each team member recognizes their importance to the communication flow of the team, they'll happen with much more consistency.

This time as a team is crucial to ensuring that everyone is on the same page; learning that a team member is inundated with work and needs support, hearing about current client situations, understanding firm policy changes, and any other relevant topics. If you commit to consistent, efficient team meetings, you'll find that you and your team look forward to them, and the time together will become an invaluable tool for the health of your business and your client experience.

Best Practices for Effective Team Meetings:

• Pick a consistent date and time for the recurring meetings. Put them on each team member’s electronic calendar
• Execute the meeting even if all team members are not in the office. If two out of four members are available, then those two individuals should meet and discuss. Vacations or scheduling conflicts for one or more team members should not cause a team meeting cancellation
• Create agendas for each type of meeting and have that agenda present at each meeting
• Designate one member of the team as the keeper of the agenda, sender of the calendar invitation, the central repository of notes, etc. This person owns team meetings and if anyone wants to add an agenda item, they know who to contact. This creates a streamlined process and eliminates confusion. 
• At the beginning of meetings, if social conversation cuts into the business agenda, set a time. When the timer dings, it's time to focus on business. 
• A best-practice meeting schedule looks like:
  • Daily Huddle (10-15 mins.)
  • Weekly Meeting (30-45 mins.)
  • Monthly Meeting (1 hr.)
  • Quarterly Planning Session (1 hr.)
  • Annual Offsite Meeting (half-to-full-day)