Meetings

Online course:
Meetings - click to enlarge

How often do you think that the meeting you are in is a waste of your time? In many organisations meetings are ineffective and a real drain on time. Try these strategies to make your meetings more effective.

• If decisions need to be made keep numbers as low as possible.
• Schedule meetings for precise times, like 10.15.
• Set a maximum duration i.e. one hour.
• Keep meetings shorter by starting at 11.30 a.m. or 4.00 p.m.
• Prune the number and size of meetings.
• Manage the environment and resist interruptions.
• Prepare a timed agenda which will force the pace.
• Set a clear meeting objective at the outset.
• For each topic summarise the arguments on either side before opening the debate.

• Understand the type of meeting:

1. Communication: everyone, visual aids, questions
2. Monitoring progress: short, formal, tough, efficient
3. Team: regular, short, confidential, positive, all have 5 minutes to speak
4. Problem-solving: focus on problem, safe to suggest ideas

• Actions:

1. Write them down
2. Assigned to one person only (and accepted)
3. Issued immediately afterwards (e-mail or photocopy hand-written)
4. Followed up at the next meeting or before

Are you ready to go one step further? The online course features over 2 hours of video instruction and a series of interactive diagnostic tools. Click here for more information.

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