Business Lessons From Grade School to the Conference Room

I recently read an article on Edutopia that discussed a set of rules for speaking and listening that was posted in a third grade classroom. Those rules were as follows:

Each person must contribute, but you must take turns! Ask classmates to build on your ideas. Ask questions so that you better understand one another. While I was reading these rules, designed and written for 8 year olds, it struck me how far these same principles could improve meetings and their outcomes.

As business “professionals”, I’m sure we have all found ourselves in meetings or conference calls that have, in an instant, devolved into bouts of shouting, eye-rolling, and other, shall we say… childish behavior. At moments like these, it’s not difficult to feel like you are actually surrounded by third graders. Today, I’m going to discuss 5 classroom lessons that, if followed, could have a big impact on your next meeting.

1. Break the Ice

In the classroom, teachers often play “ice breaker” games designed to get every child to participate, encourage contribution, and increase comfort levels between classmates. The same principles apply in a business meeting.

When I’m meeting with my staff, I like to start by giving everyone an opportunity to share one thing – something positive or something they are excited for, something they did on the weekend, etc.

. I’ve found that when starting things off on a positive note, it sets the tome for the morale in the office for the remainder of that day which can carry on throughout the week and have a positive impact on performance. This also encourages staff to contribute more openly to business ideas, allows them to get to know each other better, and helps build a stronger office culture.

2.Take Your Turn

There is absolutely nothing worse than finding yourself stuck in a meeting without order, with everyone trying desperately to talk over one another. Having an agenda is one thing, but you should also consider implementing a system of rules to ensure not only that everyone has a turn to speak, but that also keep your meetings run on time. While some offices swear by systems like Robert’s Rules, others simply use a talking stick, or even develop a set of rules of their own. Whatever it is that works for your office, try putting a system of order in place before your next meeting!

3. Show + Tell

“Show and Tell” day is different for every kid – some love the chance to have the floor and speak in front of the class, while others absolutely hate it. Guess what? The same is true of your staff. It is so important to create a safe space during meetings so that everyone is encouraged to participate. You’d be surprised at how often your quietest employees have the best ideas. One other way we like to “Show and Tell” here at Prizm is by sharing our successes. Everyone gets an opportunity to share their latest win while feeling celebrated and appreciated by the whole team.

4. Take Good Notes

Ever try studying for a test with some really terrible notes? Ever try to make a business plan from some poorly scribbled minutes? Same thing! Taking great notes during meeting seems obvious in theory, but many companies lose valuable information every day by not storing and recording meeting minutes properly. In addition, try using chart paper or a whiteboard during your next brainstorming session. Everyone will be able to stay on the same page, and you’ll be sure to see an increase in staff participation.

5. The Golden Rule

The last lesson is a classic, and extends well beyond the walls of the classroom or the office – “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” In school, in business, and in life, at the end of the day nothing matters as much as treating people with the respect and kindness they deserve. We all know good business can be aggressive, competitive, and even cutthroat – but if everyone kept the golden rule in mind, every workplace might just be a little bit more positive.

So the next time you’re in a meeting that’s getting a little out of hand, take a second to think to yourself, “What would my third grade teacher say?”

The advice you get might be more applicable than you think! Karina Hayat is one of Canada’s top 100 female entrepreneurs as listed by w100 and has been in the lead generation business since 2001. She is the President and Co-founder of Prizm Media; a PROFIT 500 Listed and compliance focused lead generation company that caters to some of the fastest growing DMEs and pharmacies in US and Canada.