The Same Side of the Table

Imagine that you’re in a board room, locked in some intense negotiation. Maybe you’re selling your company, maybe you’re signing an NFL contract, maybe you’re fighting a legal case. During a negotiation, there’s a lot of meaning to what side of the table you’re on. Most significantly, everyone on the same side of the table is on the same team – we might not like each other, we might not always disagree, but we’ll close ranks and look out for one another if needed because we’re representing our shared goal more than ourselves. The cardinal rule of meetings with your direct reports is that you are always on the same side of the table. From the moment you walk in to the moment you leave, every single thing that your team does is a reflection and extension of you: If they say something dumb, you don’t get to pile on. If they’re at a loss for words, you don’t get to cross your arms and sit there while they squirm. If someone on your team is getting hard questions that they’re struggling…