The bottom line is to stay motivated. Starting a business is one of hardest things anyone can ever do. The uncertainty, lack of a support structure, complete and total disregard of your typical safety zone. It is all part of starting a business. But rewards are far greater than sacrifices. And in end, when you are financially secure, and independent from corporate world, it will be more gratifying than you could have ever dreamed.

Top talent stays with organizations because they believe there are chances for professional growth and challenge. We could invest more time planning for these opportunities. High achievers want to be in contact and dialog with colleagues they respect. Well-run meetings is one way to bring best minds together.

Be careful that your meetings are not just information exchanges. Use them for creative thinking and problem solving. Quality won’t happen accidentally. You need a plan.

You might try following activity. Ask each person to write down biggest challenge they are facing along with biggest obstacles to resolve that issue. Next, ask people to discuss their issues in pairs. Then have each person describe his or her partner’s issue to large group. The group can then work as a team to identify some actions and mutually agreed upon solutions.

Handling conflicts skillfully builds morale

Address any conflicts that are impacting morale and productivity. Unresolved conflicts often lead to very unproductive meetings. As a leader or meeting facilitator, you need to find ways to confront and resolve issues as they arise. Try some of these strategies:

Dominating behavior:

Direct responses to entire group; Give eye contact to others. Ask for others’ questions.

Side conversations:

Physically move toward talkers. Ask “Was there something you needed?”

Arguing behavior: Agree that issue is interesting but “We must move on in interest of time. Other questions?”

Tangents:Summarize what they said and ask for questions from others. Reduce eye contact to offender. Joking: Show a sense of humor or smile, then re-focus.

Irrelevant questions:

“I think that’s interesting, but I’d like to focus on ___”.

Besides professional growth, probably nothing motivates more than positive recognition for one’s achievements and contributions. Generous recognition sets tone in any environment. It reinforces cultural values and even purpose of organization and its services. Take advantages of every meeting by recognizing successes. Don’t you often find yourself spending more time correcting faults, mistakes, and problems than you take to acknowledge other’s positive actions and behaviors. Studies show that people want more meaning in their work. They want a better quality of life, so find out what they need to enhance quality of their work environment.

Catch them doing something right. Then catch them again and again and again.