By Nancy Padberg, MBA, President and CEO
Monday Morning Meetings are about collaboration, breaking bread, and making commitments to each other. This meeting has a specific structure to ensure that we cover team bonding, the agenda for the week, and any deadlines and priorities for the week.
Check-In
While the team is having lunch, we start with our Check-In. This time serves as an icebreaker to jump into conversation and team bonding while the associates can enjoy their lunch together. Each associate will have time to share their weekend or any life updates. I encourage leaders to use this time strategically. It is essential to hear each associate’s check-in and press in and ask a question. This shows each associate your interest and care.
CEO Update
The Chief Executive Officer Update is a concise yet comprehensive report directly from the CEO, offering a bird’s-eye view of the organization’s landscape. It covers internal matters such as Board of Directors interactions, significant events, and community engagements. The CEO update serves as a vital communication tool to keep the whole team updated with the current state of the organization and the climate in which the organization is approaching. This also provides time for a CEO to share with the team any good news, such as awards, rankings, or acknowledgments.
COO Update
The Chief Operating Officer provides an update on operational details. The update covers event logistics, process updates, community engagements, vacation schedules, and internal reminders. This internal-facing communication streamlines operations fosters cohesion and boosts productivity within the organization.
Lightning Round
The lightning round is the business-focused segment of these MMMs. ‘Who is working on what?’ and ‘What is the week’s focus?’ This is when the entire team is present to discuss the current focus for the week and what each associate is working on that week. Every person will have about one to two minutes to share their focus and projects for the week, and any important deadlines will be addressed. During this time, each department is covered: finance, marketing, development, operations, and events.
Here is the key. As the leader, remember your responsibility to set the tone for the culture you want. I always ask ‘Is there anything we can help with?’ to offer your help. This reinforces a helpful culture of teamwork.
Mission Moment
If someone has recently heard a testimonial from someone impacted by our work, or if someone received a donation or kind note or phone call, we would call this a mission moment. It can be easy to forget the impact you are contributing to when working at a nonprofit. While hustling to meet constantly approaching deadlines and preparing for board meetings, reflecting on the mission and the lives truly changed by our work is empowering. I call these ‘mission moments’.
Now, there may not be a new mission moment shared every week. Whenever it is possible to share a story or a testimonial heard recently, it seems to bring a fresh perspective to the team. What brings us to work each day? Who is impacted by our work? Each organization will have different answers to those questions, but the reflections serve the same purpose: to remind us that there is a life-changing purpose beyond our day-to-day agendas.
Monday Morning Meetings serve as the backbone of our organizational success. They provide a platform for open dialogue, team alignment, and reconnection with our mission. We strengthen bonds, clarify strategies, and reaffirm our commitment to our collective goals by coming together at the beginning of each week. These meetings are not just a routine; they are the cornerstone of our collaborative efforts, driving us forward with clarity, purpose, and shared determination.
