7 Reasons Why Leaders Don’t Like Meetings

“You’re not one of those people who likes meetings are you?”

Those words still sting to this day.  The year was 1997 and I was a young, passionate, emerging leader in a cutting-edge, thriving ministry.  For the area in which we live, we were breaking new ground and seeing hundreds of unchurched and dechurched individuals finding joy in their personal relationship with Jesus.

I recruited one of the top business leaders in the nation who happened to attend our church to lead a small group of the ministry’s leaders.  Upon lining up the leaders and organizing the small group, I did what all good leaders are supposed to do, I called a meeting.  And then scheduled several follow-up meetings.

At the time, I loved meetings.  I was young, passionate and nothing was better than gathering a collection of great thinkers together to discuss what God was going to do through our band of renegades.  And then I engaged a leader who was bigger, faster, Godlier and more intelligent than anyone I had ever been around.  He was polite but simply did not have the time nor inclination to be in a bunch of meetings.

When I approached he and his wife about the meeting schedule, she said the words shown above, “You’re not one of those people who likes meetings are you?”

As I have grown older, I now realize exactly what they were talking about.  Exposure has become experience.  Leadership is about movement.  Leadership is about action.  Leadership is about accomplishing something, not talking about it.  Leaders do not have time to waste.

The following are 7 Reasons Leaders Do Not Like Meetings:

1. Meetings often do not address mission critical issues.
2. Meetings often pool ignorance.
3. Meetings often waste time.  And leaders are not looking for something to fill their calendar.
4. Meetings often take leaders away from things far more important (their family) or productive.
5. Meetings often force leaders to mask boredom and display patience.
6. Meetings often have the wrong people in the room.
7. Meetings cost time and money.

I hate meetings.  I often have to apologize to someone after one because I eventually enter into a state of carnality.  But I love strategy sessions.

1. Strategy sessions have a defined purpose.
2. Strategy sessions focus on accomplishment, not activity.
3. Strategy sessions force leaders to prepare ahead of time.
4. Strategy sessions have owners.
5. Strategy sessions operate at an accelerated pace.
6. Strategy sessions are characterized by high energy.
7. Strategy sessions result in great ideas.
8. Strategy sessions have decision-makers in the room.  The people who can truly move the ball.
9. Strategy sessions bring accountability and truth-telling but keep short accounts.
10. Strategy sessions end on time.
11. Strategy sessions breed unity and respect amongst the leadership team.
12. Strategy sessions make you glad you are a leader.

So who is with me?  Do you like meetings or not?  Why?

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