“Let’s get on the same page”

Here’s what that means as I’ve typically heard it:

Boss calls everyone into a meeting.

The meeting consists of much talking, some posturing, and little dialogue. Boss does a rundown of her thinking. Of his processing. Of their closed door brainstorming.

There is a moment for input at the end.

It feels awkward. A brave soul reluctantly puts in her two cents. It’s taken into semi-plausible consideration, followed by three reasons her two cents aren’t even worth that much.

Boss sums up the meeting, gives marching orders, dismisses the “get on the same page” meeting with an element of smug satisfaction, feeling like a great leader.

Everyone else leaves the meeting unchanged, feeling unheard, and possibly a little frustrated.

”The same page” doesn’t mean reading your page to the group, assuming all present understand your thinking, reasoning, vision, and values.

Same page thinking means something quite different.

Start with relationships.

Ask great questions.

Your dialog should leadership to answering the following questions:

What are our shared values?

What are our actual shared values? (These are typically different than the ones posted on the wall in the break room.)

Is our vision and mission shared? Why or why not?

Until you have this discussion you will struggle “getting on the same page” for smaller projects, proposals, and tasks.

The key is not forcing your agenda on people to get them on your page. Have enough humility, courage, and fortitude to get on the same page — together.