Meetings get a bad rap.\u00a0 And in many cases, they should!\u00a0 When they\u2019re boring, pointless, poorly orchestrated, and a waste of everyone\u2019s time, they should get a bad rap.\u00a0 But when they\u2019re done right, meetings can (and should) be vital tools for debate, problem solving, communication, and coordination.\u00a0 If you believe meetings at your place are not as vibrant and productive as they should be, please read below.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s start with agendas.\u00a0 Use them, and publish them in advance of the meeting so the people attending can prepare and be ready for whatever the meeting is intended to accomplish.\u00a0 I know, I know . . . pain in the butt, but use them.\u00a0 An agenda sets a tone for the meeting that says we\u2019re here to do something specific.\u00a0 An agenda also helps the group stay focused, on task, and on schedule.<\/p>\n
Start meetings on time.\u00a0 As the saying goes, \u201cThe only trouble with being on time is that there\u2019s never anyone there to appreciate it.\u201d\u00a0 Don\u2019t let it be that way.\u00a0 Demand that everyone arrive 5 minutes early so they can get idle chit chat out of the way and the meeting can start promptly on schedule.\u00a0 Explain that wandering into a meeting five or ten minutes late is disrespectful to everyone else\u2019s time.<\/p>\n
Encourage everyone to be open, honest, and candid, and to express viewpoints that may not be popular or in keeping with the majority viewpoint.\u00a0 Diversity of thought is essential when you\u2019re trying to deal with important, often tough, issues.\u00a0 As General George Patton once observed, \u201cIf everyone is thinking alike, someone\u2019s not thinking.\u201d\u00a0 So a ground rule for all your meetings should be, we disagree without being disagreeable.\u00a0 We want to be civil and respectful of one another\u2019s thoughts, and be able to leave the meeting with no hard feelings.\u00a0 Do this and you\u2019ll have lively, vibrant discussion.<\/p>\n
You should have a specific amount of time allotted for each agenda item, and work to manage to those times.\u00a0 One of the complaints we often hear about meetings is that they drone on and on with no clue as to when they\u2019ll end.\u00a0 Don\u2019t let that happen.\u00a0 Keep your discussion focused on the topic at hand and don\u2019t allow the group to go down every rabbit hole that comes along.\u00a0 Don\u2019t let any single individual dominate the conversation and don\u2019t allow lurkers . . . everyone must participate.\u00a0 But at the same time, encourage everyone to be succinct and efficient with their words when it\u2019s their turn to speak.<\/p>\n
In general, at the conclusion of the meeting, each item on your agenda should have a specific action associated with it, someone charged with taking that action, and a deadline.<\/p>\n
So in summary, to have effective, productive meetings:<\/p>\n
–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Always publish an agenda prior to the meeting.
\n–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Start on time, close on time.
\n–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Encourage lively, but civil debate, and diversity of thought.
\n–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Keep discussions focused, contain blabber mouths, draw out wallflowers.
\n–\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Leave the meeting with action steps for each agenda item.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re already doing all these things and your meetings are still a waste of time, call me.\u00a0 We should talk.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Meetings get a bad rap.\u00a0 And in many cases, they should!\u00a0 When they\u2019re boring, pointless, poorly orchestrated, and a waste of everyone\u2019s time, they should get a bad rap.\u00a0 But when they\u2019re done right, meetings can (and should) be vital tools for debate, problem solving, communication, and coordination.\u00a0 If you believe meetings at your place<\/p>\n