Applying a Needs-Based Framework to Enhance Organisational Meetings

Abstract

<p>This thesis reports the results of three studies that drew on needs-related theory to investigate the effects of meeting leader behaviours that satisfy the psychological needs of attendees on attendee satisfaction with meetings and meeting productivity. The concept of attendee needs satisfaction applied to this current research is based on two needs-related theories: (1) Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory, and (2) self-determination theory. Specifically, the kinds of attendee needs measured in line with Maslow’s theory were the need to belong to a trusted group of peers, the need to feel respected and valued by group-members, and the need to tap into one’s potential in creative ways. In addition, the kinds of attendee needs measured in line with the tenets of self-determination theory were the need to have a sense of volition over one’s own actions, to feel confident in doing well at meetings, and the need to feel close to other meeting members. Study 1, completed with a sample of 110 employees, showed that the satisfaction of attendees’ psychological needs served a significant mediating role in the significant association between need-supportive leader behaviours and the extent of attendees’ meeting satisfaction and productivity. Study 2, an analogue experiment with 158 employees, showed that the use of needs-focused behaviours by meeting leaders led to attendee ratings of satisfaction and productivity in a hypothetical meeting scenario. Using a research design of multiple baselines across groups, the results of Study 3 showed significant positive, enduring effects of training three managers of a for-profit corporation in running meetings for members of the organisational groups they led (<i>N</i> = 16). Results showed that managers’ use of needs-focused meeting behaviours increased significantly over time. Attendee groups provided significantly higher ratings from pre- to post-training for the extent of their psychological needs satisfaction, meeting satisfaction, and meeting productivity. Taken together, the findings of these three studies provide correlational and experimental evidence for the positive impact of needs-focused meeting leadership. The combined findings suggest that increasing needs-focused meeting leader behaviour tends to have positive effects on attendee satisfaction with the meeting and on meeting productivity. The findings also show that it is possible to increase these leader behaviours through training.</p>