Death by Meeting (eBook)

PATRICK LENCIONI is founder and president of The Table Group, a management consulting firm specializing in executive team development and organizational health. As a consultant and keynote speaker, he has worked with thousands of senior executives in organizations ranging from Fortune 500s and high-tech start-ups to universities and nonprofits. He is the author of numerous nationally recognized books, including the New York Times best-seller The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. To learn more about Patrick Lencioni and his other products and services--including his newsletter and free resources--please visit www.tablegroup.com.

Introduction vii

The Fable 1

Preview 3

Part One: Flashback 5

Part Two: Plot Point 19

Part Three: Protagonist 53

Part Four: Action 69

Part Five: Resolution 173

The Model 219

The Paradox of Meetings 221

Executive Summary 223

Problem #1: Lack of Drama 226

Problem #2: Lack of Contextual Structure 233

The Biggest Challenge of All: "The Myth of Too Many Meetings" 250

A Final Thought on Meetings 253

The Weekly Tactical Meeting Guide 254

Acknowledgments 255

About the Author 259

"...a work of fiction with important messages for
management" (Leadership & Organisational Development
Journal)

"The author is something of a master of the modern
fable...." (Professional Manager, Vol.13, No.6,
November 2004)

"...pitches his theory neatly at busy readers by
opening with an executive summary." (Supply
Management, 8 July 2004)

"Highly recommended: you could even take it to your next
meeting." (On Target, September 2007)
"Finally, a real solution to an age old problem. Meetings may never be the same."
--Kris Hagerman, Executive Vice President, Strategic Operations, VERITAS Software Corporation

"Death By Meeting is about much more than meetings; it's about an entire management philosophy. I read a lot of books on management, and Lencioni's are among the very best. They form the basis for our approach at Silicon Valley Bank."
--Ken Wilcox, CEO, Silicon Valley Bank

"Lencioni has done it again! Insightful. Practical. Ready-to-implement solutions. If you lead people, you can't afford to miss this book. It's an absolute must-read."
--Jim Mellado, President, Willow Creek Association

"We've put Pat's theories into practice and they work. Our meetings are more productive, our communication is clearer, and the team's commitment to decisions is much greater."
--Curt Nonomaque, President and CEO, VHA Inc.

"Meetings are such a critical element of effective organizational communication. Lencioni has provided a concise, entertaining, and inventive guide to improving meeting structure, participation, and results. Thumbs up for this insightful tale."
--Sandy Alderson, Executive Vice President of Operations, Major League Baseball