Business meetings do have their place but how many have you attended that have been a complete waste of time? It comes down to productivity; making your time count. So when you do arrange a meeting, why not make it is as productive as possible? Here are some tips that might help make your next meeting with staff or clients super productive:
1. What is the purpose of your meeting?
Is it to share information with a group; to make a decision; to get commitment for an idea or project; to brainstorm ideas; to solve a problem; to sell an idea to your staff?
2. Prepare an agenda and send it to attendees before the meeting.
This might sound obvious. An agenda delivers the structure to the meeting and helps people prepare and check that they have completed any actions from previous meetings. Typically, an agenda should have the following elements: A title; date, time and location; who is invited; discussion points with names of the person responsible for each point and any other relevant information.
3. Set a time for your meeting & stick to your time:
Starting a meeting late sends the message that it is ok to be late, and is annoying for those who arrived on time. Ending late can cause problems for those having to dash off to other commitments.
5. Be hospitable and welcoming:
If appropriate, provide drink and food- buy your client a coffee! It is more thatn a small act of kindness, it also makes people feel welcome and often more energized and motivated to listen up & contribute.
6. End on a positive note:
If within your power, end your meeting positively reinforcing positive aspects of the meeting and attributes of your staff and business. (This may not always be possible, especially during dismissal meetings.) The best meetings end with a buzz with added motivation & inspiration for all interested parties attending.