This Just In.
Researchers have now discovered that ending your board meeting on a positive note significantly improves your directors’ overall memory and perception of the experience—even if it didn’t go particularly well.
Said differently, when it comes to your board meetings, it appears that LAST impressions matter most.
This insight, now referred to as the “Peak-Ending Rule”, has powerful implications for every nonprofit organization.
Let’s take a closer look.
5 Reasons Why the Final Flourish Matters
There’s an old adage that goes: Starting strong is good. Finishing strong is EPIC.
Totally true.
Here are 5 reasons why your meetings final flourish matters:
1. A Strong Finish Leaves a Lasting Impression
When you close your gatherings on a crescendo, everyone in attendance leaves energized and feels GREAT about what just happened. And, according to researchers, these parting emotions are a major factor in determining whether or not they will come back.
2. A Strong Finish Reinforces Key Points.
If done right, finishing your meeting on a high note not only reinforces the main points, but it assures that everyone is on the same page and remembers everything in exactly the same way.
3. A Strong Finish Motivated Morale.
Ending your board meeting on a positive note, especially with acknowledgements or celebrations, can significantly improve team morale and create a more connected cadre of like-minded souls.
4. A Strong Finish Motivates Action.
A strong ending to your meeting can inspire participants to take immediate and meaningful action on the items that have been discussed.
5. A Strong Finish Enhances Engagement.
A high-energy closing can make your meetings more enjoyable and increase the likelihood of future participation and engagement.
Three Proven Ways to End Your Meeting with Energy and Meaning
Ending your board meeting with energy and meaning doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, these three simple—but enormously POWERFUL— closing questions will help you to get the job done
1. From today’s meeting, what is one thing you are most excited about as we move forward?
This question is powerful because it immediately gets everybody focused on creating a better and brighter tomorrow. And a better and brighter tomorrow is exhilarating, meaningful, and empowering.
Pose this question at the completion of your meeting and your directors will be eagerly looking forward to getting back together.
2. How are we better because of today’s meeting?
Posing this question to your board is another very powerful way to close your meeting.
The reason this question is so powerful is that people are drawn to being a part of something great—and most are willing to go to extraordinary lengths to make it happen.
This question not only scratches that itch by inviting everyone to weigh-in, but it also helps the group to bond as they work side-by-side to make each other stronger.
3. What is the one thing you want to know more about?
This third and final closing question is a game-changer.
Here’s why.
When you pose this question to your group at the close of your meeting, you are providing them with the opportunity to not only articulate the things that are most important to them but also to ask for more information on how everything fits together.
But there’s more.
This question also allows everyone at the table to see what everyone else is thinking. This, in turn, expands the group’s consciousness.
But we’re still not done.
This question also allows the people who are leading your meetings, to see what matters most to the group and/or what issues need more attention. Armed with this information, your leaders can then start tailoring future agenda items to address the things in which your directors are most interested.
Genius.
High Impact Boards
Your board meetings don’t have to be a place where great dreams go to die.
Nor do they have to be a gathering where your directors sit and never serve. And your board meetings certainly don’t have to be something that you do because your by-laws say so.
In fact, if you do your meetings right, they can be filled with energy; they can be filled with meaning; and they can be filled with joyful camaraderie.
But greatness doesn’t happen by accident.
And this is why these three closing questions matter.
Remember, how you finish may be more important than how you start.
For your next board meeting, close with style. Close with panache. Close with purpose.
Your directors will love you for it.
And the result will be nothing less than extraordinary.
Thanks for all you do!