James McKenna

March Madness — the NCAA men’s basketball tournament — is just around the corner, and I can tell you, I will be hooked. Every year I thoroughly enjoy the great skill and teamwork displayed by these talented teams, not unlike the tremendous skill and teamwork shown every single day at North Shore Bank. Watching a recent exhilarating game and the courtside time-out strategy meetings got me thinking:

In our meeting-intensive, team-oriented culture at North Shore Bank, do we have something to learn from the game of basketball?

Basketball teams go into each game — their “workday” — with strategies designed to achieve the desired outcome: to win the game. On the court, players work in synchronicity to execute those strategies. But on occasion, the coach needs to call a time-out to huddle and talk strategy. The team knows that every second of their time off the court is precious, so these meetings are highly focused.

The world of basketball is very different from the world of banking, but in both worlds, our meetings should be well-orchestrated, focused “time-outs” that enable us to more effectively do our work, rather than engulfing it. Can you imagine going to a basketball game where the majority of time was spent watching the teams huddle?

Meetings are an absolutely critical component of our work at North Shore Bank. We need designated times to discuss the bank’s status, challenges and opportunities, and our vision for the future. Our teams need face-to-face meetings to develop, revise and share strategies, make critical decisions, and outline action plans.

While our inclusive, team-oriented culture contributes significantly to making North Shore Bank the strong, quality organization it is today, many of us spend too many hours in meetings that lack focus or involve too many people. Our time is a precious commodity. In the banking world, we appreciate a strong return on investment for our dollars. How about a strong return on investment for our time?

As you plan or attend your next meeting, ask the following questions:

• What is the purpose of this meeting? Is there an agenda? Am I prepared?
• Who are the key players — the decision makers and implementers — who truly need to be involved?
• Could we eliminate or shorten this meeting, or use an alternative mode of communication?
• What is the desired outcome?
• What do we need to accomplish, in a defined period of time, to achieve the desired outcome?

In the spirit of March Madness, let’s re-evaluate our approach to the timeout. Fewer, shorter and more focused meetings will enable our great North Shore Bank team to devote more time and energy on the court, skillfully executing our jobs, enjoying a more productive workday, and providing the very best outcomes for the people and communities we serve.