Lean Coffee: An Effective Meeting Format

Introduction:

Lean Coffee is a meeting format that was developed to minimize the wastage of time during meetings and to use the available time in the most efficient manner. It is a democratic meeting format where the agenda is decided by the attendees.

Materials Needed:

• Writing utensils for each person attending the meeting
• Notepads or sticky notes
• A device to time the meeting

How to Run a Lean Coffee Meeting:

1. Gather the attendees and provide them with the materials needed.
2. Write down the three phrases, “To Do”, “Doing” and “Done” on note cards or sticky notes and display them for everyone to see.
3. Give everyone 5 minutes to write down the topics they would like to discuss.
4. Lay down the “To Do’s” under the respective category and prioritize each topic based on the number of votes received.
5. Assign time to the discussion and select a volunteer to start the discussion.
6. Decide whether to keep discussing the same topic or move on to the next one based on a vote.
7. Move onto the next topic and put the previous one under “Done”.
8. Reflect on the meeting and evaluate satisfaction levels.
9. Make sure everyone is aware of the plan of action and answer any questions they may have.

Benefits of Lean Coffee:

• Minimizes wastage of time
• Increases motivation levels of employees
• Creates a democratic environment where everyone feels valued
• Improves communication between employees and management
• Helps in the long run in creating a loyal workforce.

Conclusion:

Lean Coffee is a highly effective meeting format that helps in engaging employees into discussions with the managerial staff. It helps in improving communication, increasing motivation levels and creating a loyal workforce in the long run.