Do you attend a lot of meetings? Are they always productive and worthwhile? If not, try using these top tips to make sure every meeting is a successful one.
1. What's the purpose?
Whether you have organised the meeting or someone else has, ask the question: 'What is the purpose?' In other words, by the time the meeting is over, what do you want to have achieved? There may be multiple goals but be clear on each. Also, think about who needs to be involved to ensure each goal can be adequately discussed.
2. Plan for the meeting
Be prepared. Is there information you can gather before the meeting that may help the discussion? Whoever sets the meeting should also distribute an agenda (before the meeting takes place). An agenda should include topics for discussion. It will ensure that everyone is clear on the expectations, that the conversation stays on track and that everyone prepares sufficiently.
3. Next steps
A meeting can become a waste of time when there are no follow up actions. As the meeting ends, ensure everyone is clear on what needs to be done to reach any set goals. Writing minutes is a great way to track what has been discussed, as well as who will be responsible for any tasks.
Meetings can be a great way to resolve issues, plan for projects and bring the team together. However, without direction and guidelines, they can be a poor use of time. So, try these tips the next time you have a meeting, and get the most out of the discussion.
