Wind through a tree

…small group self-management roles are in place so you can focus on the gathering as a whole. Suddenly, someone personally attacks you and questions your presence and role. Your internal critic speaks up and wants what it cannot have.

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Productive and energetic meetings that matter and respect everyone’s views.

Therefore:

Control your response to a situation and contain your “hot buttons” and let any remarks, no matter how personal, pass through you like wind through a tree. Reiterate the goals of the meeting, ask if they are still relevant in the conversations to that point, and ask how the group wants to proceed. Use the power of silence to await an answer.

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When you ignore the bait, any person that addressed or attacked you personally will often calm down and participate constructively the rest of the meeting.

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Sources

• Don’t just do something, stand there!—Ten Principles for Leading Meetings That Matter by Marvin Weisbord, Sandra Janoff