6 Strategies for Great Meetings
- Start on Time.
Do not reward latecomers by waiting for their arrival, and don’t repeat details already discussed to those who show up late. If tardiness is an ongoing problem, state the start times in your memos as “exactly 10:00 am” or “precisely at 10 o’clock”. Emphasize promptness. - Stick with Your Agenda.
Try to resolve each issue in turn on assign the responsibility to resolve an issue outside of the meeting time, if appropriate. Let the agenda be the disciplining agent in keeping the meeting in line and on time. - Meet Standing Up.
Invite your participants “not” to sit down. This technique has limited application, but it can keep a short meeting from becoming a long one. - End on Time.
The exceptions to this rule occur when either the meeting can be let out early because agenda items have been satisfied, or a later “end time” is negotiated by the meeting group. Never ask the question “Is there anything else we need to discuss?” Instead, ask “Does anyone have anything to add to the next meeting’s agenda?” - Control Meeting Interruptions.
Have a controlled environment for your meeting that will discourage interruptions except for real emergencies. - Limit Attendees.
Most meetings do not function well if more than eight people attend. The “point of diminishing returns” enters the picture when you have more than eight. This is particularly true of decision-making meetings. Andrew Grove says, “Decision making is not a spectator sport — onlookers get in the way of what needs to be done.
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From Time Management by Richard Winward.
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