It’s time to rally the troops

This article first appeared October 26th, 2012.

As much as it pains me to type this, it’s time to call a meeting. A big one. Invite everyone at your company. Don’t make it just a short 10 minute meeting either – go the full hour. Let everyone at your company have their say.

Yes, Old Taskmaster still believes meetings should be cut in half, screens should be completely banned during meetings – especially the screens of anyone playing Solitaire – and there are always more productive things to do than hold a meeting. Good meetings are still like life in Thomas Hobbes’ Leviathan: Nasty, brutish and short.

However, there’s a good reason to make a big exception: It’s less than two months until Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick returns on the sleigh. For most businesses, that means the busiest two months of the year.

The major product announcements over the past couple of weeks by Apple and Microsoft show that the big end of town is already ready for the Christmas rush. If you don’t prepare now, you’ll be left in their dust.

That makes now the perfect time to deliver a big picture motivational speech to all your staff. Remind everyone about the DNA of your company’s products and what makes your company unique. Produce the type of oratory that wins American presidential debates and get everyone motivated to work their hardest during the busy months ahead.

Then throw the meeting over to the floor. If there are any major company-wide issues that will prevent your company doing its absolute best this Christmas season, make sure your staff either speak now or, until the New Year, hold their peace.

Obviously, small issues can and should be resolved during team meetings. But it’s better to get any issues out in the open and resolved now than to have them kill your productivity and sales in the week before Christmas.

Now is the time to rally your troops.

Get it done – today!