We were sitting in a doctor\u2019s brand new office. The Physician\u2019s Assistant came in and was quite grumpy. \u201cThe examination table is placed wrong relative to the window. The sink and power plugs are all in the wrong places. And the room is set up so I can\u2019t move anything around to optimize my examinations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf only they had asked me, it would have been so simple to do it right.\u201d<\/p>\n
Later we were in the treatment room and the Head Nurse was rubbing her aching back. \u201cThe protection cage is set at the wrong height, it\u2019s going to have to be moved up a foot since I can\u2019t spend all day bent over like this.\u201d Moving the cage will also require moving the overhead lighting in the ceiling. \u201cAnd, it sure would be nice if the laboratory was set up so we could monitor the patients without having to constantly turn around.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIf only they had asked me, it would been so simple to do it right.\u201d<\/p>\n
If only. Why didn\u2019t the partners ask? Did it matter? The lesson is simple. You need to have involvement of all the people affected by decisions. Everyone wants to be respected.<\/p>\n
There is only one way people know they are respected. You know you are respected when and only when your opinion is solicited, understood, and considered before decisions affecting you are made.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf only they had asked me\u201d is the saddest phrase a manager can hear.<\/p>\n
An End to Meeting Madness<\/a><\/em><\/strong> documents our decades of experience in facilitating high-stakes meetings. If you\u2019re interested in having productive meetings that help set your strategy and keep your projects productive and on track, read the book, listen to my On-Demand webinar Run Leadership Meetings That Burst With Fresh Ideas<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/strong>, or give us a call.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" We were sitting in a doctor\u2019s brand new office. The Physician\u2019s Assistant came in and was quite grumpy. \u201cThe examination table is placed wrong relative to the window. The sink and power plugs are all in the wrong places. And … Continue reading