Make Your Meetings Effective

#20, August 12, 2008

We've all attended meetings that failed to start on time, ran over, or went off track because the agenda was not followed. When meetings get off track or drag on, heads begin to nod and minds to wander as people start thinking about the other, more important things they could be doing.

So what's the secret to an engaging, results-driven, on-schedule meeting where everyone is motivated to participate?

Here are seven tips for making every meeting one where everyone is tuned-in and intent on giving their best:

  1. Issue an agenda so that attendees can come prepared.
  2. Ask for a volunteer to be a timekeeper for your meetings--make it his or her job it is to remind you of agenda item time limits. This frees you up to focus on content.
  3. Start and end on time! Keep to the agenda items and minimize off-topic conversations.
  4. Establish ground rules for more effective meetings, including having only one person talk at a time--no side conversations!
  5. Rotate the chairperson at each meeting to improve team member's meeting-management skills--it will also get them more involved.
  6. Gain consensus on decisions.
  7. At the end of each meeting, have team members rate its effectiveness and ask for their input on ideas for improvement.
The key to successful meetings is to get agreement from attendees that you will all operate by these guidelines. No one wants to participate in meetings that they feel are a waste of their time, so get their support in making sure that everyone is engaged, attentive, and, at the very least, awake.

Keep reading our Weekly Leadership Tips for ways you can create a work environment where all team members are engaged, committed to your organization, and passionate about doing a great job every time.

Learning how to conduct effective meetings is just one idea from a vast wealth of information Leadership Strategies International has to offer about leadership.

How invested are your employees in the vision of your company? Are you doing all that you can as a leader to engage and retain your employees' interest?

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© 2007 Keith Ayers. All rights reserved.

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