How to Lead Effective Business Meetings

Too many business meetings are ill-directed, digressive and drawn out. Call a meeting only when it's absolutely critical, and structure it firmly so that it achieves its purpose.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Business Books
• Overhead Projectors
• Flip Charts
• Notebook Papers
• Personal Organizers
• Spiral Notebooks
• Transparencies
• Slide Projectors

1. Decide whether you really need to call a meeting. Can the issue be resolved by an individual or a conference call?

2. Determine who needs to attend. Try keeping the number of attendees small, as large meetings get unwieldy. Suggest that people attend only the parts of the meeting that involve them. This way you can keep the discussion more focused.

3. Set definite starting and stopping times.

4. Prepare an agenda. Explain the goal of the meeting; if there are many goals, decide which ones command priority, and make this clear.

5. Circulate the agenda in advance to allow attendees to prepare.

6. Assemble visual aids such as charts, handouts or slides.

7. Start the meeting at the designated time, regardless of whether everyone is present. Avoid taking too much time to summarize for latecomers.

8. Start off the meeting with straightforward, easily resolved issues before heading into thornier ones.

9. Allocate a specific amount of time for each issue. Move through issues, allowing for discussion but discouraging digression or repetition. Use a timer to help monitor the time.

10. Postpone discussion until the end of the meeting if debate on an issue runs overtime. Make sure to cover the other issues on the agenda.

11. Follow up: Circulate copies of the minutes after the meeting to remind everyone of conclusions and action plans.

Tips & Warnings

• Schedule a meeting before lunch, at the end of the day, or immediately before another one to prevent it from becoming too long.

Who Can Help:

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[aidemwen]

on 6/4/2009 Businesses need to innovate to get out of the current economic situation. Innovation is best done in a group setting where new eyes are looking at situations and discussing the logistics with other experts in the field. This is why companies need to continue to invest in business meetings. Not only will those who attend gain new and fresh perspectives from other attendees, but they'll hear from top companies who have lived by the same philosophy. Investment in yourself and innovation are the key to your business. What have you done recently to invest in your business?Meetings drive business. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5PC4xFCKXU

[kkail6359]

on 1/16/2009 Have an appointed time keeper!

on 11/22/2005 Consider using a facilitator (moderator) from the group whose responsibility is to keep the meeting on topic, keep everyone involved (no one dominating) and the meeting on schedule.

on 11/22/2005 Keep your attendee's attention through involvement. Have short periods for comments, questions, and discussions throughout the meeting instead of at the end of the meeting.

on 11/22/2005 Try having a 5-minute recognition period where people are given a chance to show recognition to co-workers who have done a good job or worked extra hard on a project.