Suppose your boss consistently holds bad meetings, but doesn't seem to recognize that this is a problem. What can you do?
Here are some possibilities.
First, be careful. Some bosses consider any type of coaching to be an attack on their performance. Then they become defensive. If this is the case, you may have to endure bad meetings held by your boss. Attempting to help such a boss could damage your career.
However, if your boss is friendly and open to suggestions, any of the following ideas may work.
1) Offer to help with some small part of a meeting that would make the process more effective. For example, you could prepare the agenda for a meeting. As part of this task, ask your boss questions such as, "What is your goal for the meeting?" "What result do you want to have at the end?" "What do you think is the best way to accomplish that result?" etc.
2) You can also (conversationally) ask guiding questions such as those listed in #1 above when your boss schedules a meeting. Even if you boss refuses to answer them, these questions will make him think about his goal for the meeting. And that can help him work more effectively.
3) Give your boss a book on effective meetings as a gift. Tell him that you bought it after hearing another manager brag about how much it has helped (e.g., earn a raise, get promoted, be complimented by senior management).
4) Conversationally (such as during lunch) mention that you read an article about meetings that told about a "really great" technique for . . . . (something such as preparing an agenda, or making decisions, or etc.). Offer to give your boss a copy.
5) Confront your boss directly with an idea, such as "I think our meetings would take less time if we had an agenda."
6) Ask your boss to use a facilitator for a meeting. A skilled facilitator will show your boss what an effective meeting is like.
7) Ask your boss to buy a workshop on holding effective meetings (because everyone else needs it).
8) Ask the people who are responsible for training to schedule a workshop on effective meetings. This works best if all of the managers are invited to the workshop. Then your boss must attend.
9) Wait until your boss complains about bad meetings. Then ask gentle questions such as, "What makes you upset with that?" or "What caused that?" or "What should they have done?" Perhaps, such questions can lead your boss to discovering what needs to be done. Note: most people believe what they say (and doubt what they hear).
10) Complain about someone else's meeting. For example, you might say, "Wow, what a waste to time. There was no agenda and no one knew what to do. We just sat around and talked about everything except anything that mattered."
If your boss refuses to accept any encouragement to change, then wait. People who refuse to improve their work skills seldom last. In fact, your boss's boss may already be upset with the time being wasted in bad meetings.
