Don’t try to be smartest in the room; try to be kindest

Work is hard and stressful. If we’re sweet and kind to one-another, we get through it more easily, no matter how smart each of us is individually. Being kind is an investment, and its dividends pay out enormously as your organization grows. Like the article says, it’s infectious. I believe that. I believe that if I show kindness, especially to people who are new to the organization, they’ll mirror it right back, and try to show it to everyone else, too.

Listening. This is very important and pretty difficult to find in meetings. Many people arrive with a speech in their heads and are just waiting for their turn to spit out the words without any link or context to others’ points of view.

Being respectful. Being nice is the new punk, and respect and understanding of other realities are the Rosetta Stone. We should not only try to be respectful but also demand this from others.

Being empathetic. This is closely linked to listening. You need to understand the background of the topics or issues people bring to the table and put yourself in their shoes.

Being resolutive. A meeting that doesn’t end with a solution on the table is just a waste of time for everyone involved. Applying points 1, 2, and 3 in a killer combo can lead to a solution you probably didn’t have in mind at the very beginning.