You are a very busy Team Leader, working in the public health sector during a national pandemic. Currently, you're attending the team's latest bi-weekly, virtual presentation on individual projects led by a different team member each week. This particular project leader has already overrun the allocated time. Some of your team members look bored now. You agree that this presentation is dragging on too long.
What would be the most effective reaction to this situation?
You decide to leave the meeting explaining you have urgent work to do asap.
Gently wrap up the session, then hold a presentation review later that day.
Wrap-up the session by secretly messaging the whole team to ask questions now.
It's the presenter's responsibility to manage time, so this is not your responsibility.
Correct answer is B
(B) is the MOST effective solution, demonstrating collaborative decision-making in seeking a resolution. Plus taking the initiative to address the timing issue. Thirdly, it's your managerial responsibility to offer balanced feedback.
The LEAST effective solution is (A) which does not address the over-running presentation or that your team members are being similarly inconvenienced.
Whilst (C) is a 'positive' response to assume leadership of the issue; it also hands responsibility to your team. It sends a strong message to the presenter but this could have been in a more openly professional - and less secretive - manner. Also, the question session will itself take even more time (away from the team's other work).
Similarly (D) avoids taking responsibility for resolving the issue. Always look for an overall solution, which this isn't!
