Enhancing Team Meetings

Leveraging Different Work Styles

Team meetings are an essential part of collaboration and achieving collective goals. But each team is made up of people who have their own ways of working and their own strengths. When you recognize and respect these different ways of thinking, you’ll improve collaboration and productivity. In this blog post, you’ll explore ways to observe strengths and consider the different work styles on your team. By using these ideas, you can create a meeting environment where everyone feels included and can contribute their best.

Expressing Ideas: Thinkers vs. Talkers

Within your team, you may have thinkers and talkers, each with their own approach to processing information and contributing to discussions. Thinkers tend to be more introspective and analytical, silently working through ideas in their minds. On the other hand, talkers are outgoing, enthusiastically engage in brainstorming sessions, and readily share their ideas.

To engage thinkers effectively, provide the agenda topics or questions in advance. This allows them to think deeply about the information privately. After private thought time, they will feel more prepared to contribute during the meeting. When possible, ask your thinkers for their ideas or feedback one-on-one or through email, so you can get their perspective without putting them on the spot in front of others.

Talkers love informal brainstorming sessions and are great off the cuff. However, talkative individuals can get distracted and might veer off into unrelated discussions, potentially taking the meeting off-track. For talkers, it’s essential to keep them focused. Assigning a timekeeper or visually displaying the agenda (share screen or paper copy) can help maintain focus and gently remind everyone of the meeting’s goals, when necessary. 

Ready, Aim, Fire: Question Askers vs. Action-Ready

Another work style on your team are question askers and action-ready individuals. Question askers are often meticulous and detail-oriented individuals who might take notes, raise questions, or observe others for shared inquiries. The question askers are methodical and like to take time to understand what’s being shared and get things right before moving forward. Action-ready team members, on the other hand, are energized and ready to implement changes or take action just at the mention of the word “change”. They may display high energy and impatience, they’re always ready to go!

To cater to question askers, create a space or forum for them to ask questions. Providing clarity and addressing their thoughts will help them understand the meeting’s objectives better, contributing to their productivity. Encourage their participation by calling on them during discussions or offering follow-up opportunities via email or one-on-one meetings. 

Action-ready individuals thrive with concise information that outlines the most critical details. Present key information in bullet points, whether through written communication or verbal explanations. By delivering clear action steps, you enable these individuals to absorb the necessary information efficiently and swiftly move forward without missing a beat.

Adjusting to Work Styles Produces Performance

Understanding and respecting different work styles within your team is crucial for productive and inclusive team meetings. By incorporating the following techniques, you can optimize your meetings to accommodate the strengths of various team members:

1. Share agendas or questions in advance to engage thinkers effectively.
2. Assign a timekeeper or use visual cues to keep talkers on track.
3. Provide space for question askers to voice their inquiries and seek clarity.
4. Deliver information to action-ready individuals in concise, bullet-pointed formats.

By implementing these strategies, you create an environment where every team member feels valued and can contribute effectively. Remember, embracing diversity in work styles leads to enhanced collaboration, improved decision-making, and ultimately, more successful outcomes.

Your Next Steps

Start applying these techniques in your next team meeting to witness the positive impact on productivity and engagement! Interested in how to assess the motivations and drivers of your team members, beyond observable behavior? Contact us to learn more about the Predictive Index Behavioral Assessment and schedule a complimentary team dynamics review.