The objective of many meetings is to discuss things that pertain to the business or company. It could be about raising productivity, troubleshooting or just brain storming. Whatever the reason, meetings need to produce positive results so that it can impact business in a good way. With this in mind, here are some things you can do to have a productive meeting.
Start On Time
If the meeting is scheduled for a certain time and most of the people are already there, close the door and start on time. Why should the whole group wait 5 to 10 minutes for stragglers? Waiting for latecomers will only reinforce lateness in the future. If your employees and co-workers know that a meeting always starts on time, they will make sure to be there at the appointed schedule.
State The Objective
Tell the whole group what the purpose of the meeting is. Going to a meeting without an agenda is a waste of time. Stating what you want to achieve can shave as much as 17 minutes off your meeting. State the objective at the start of the meeting to ensure that your meeting is effective. To keep everybody informed beforehand, share the agenda via emails and ask your group to bring important documents to save time from going in and out of the conference room.
Be Exclusive
Try to keep your meetings as exclusive as possible. Inviting many people to the meeting turns participants into spectators. Most of the time; office politics dictates who gets to be there. Get this, Google limits attendees to 10 and Amazon has a 2 Pizza rule where meeting should be limited to the number 2 pizzas can feed. Essentially, what these companies are trying to do is to limit meetings to people that need to be there.
Timed To The Second
Nicole Steinbok’s 22 minute meeting idea is brilliant. According to her, a 22-minute meeting prevents inefficiency from attendees. 22-minute meetings are ideal for companies because it keeps everybody conscious and focused from beginning till end. Many people fill their intended time so nothing is wasted. You will find that you will accomplish the same things with a 22-minute and 30-minute meeting.
Ditch The PowerPoint
Ditch the powerpoint presentation as much as possible. Most of the time, the presenter just reads off his or her presentation anyway. A powerpoint presentation is a visual tool, not a crutch. The presenter should know what he or she should be presenting without having to need life support from a visual aid.
Keep Notes and Circulate After
Keeping notes and circulating them after the meeting is one of the best ways to maximize efficiency. This will help keep everybody on track and solve potential misunderstandings. The minutes of the meeting should be circulated within 24 hours so that everybody is clear about deadlines and responsibilities.
Change The Scenery
Being cooped up inside can strain creativity, so if you find that your group is lacking in inspiration, take the meeting outside for a change of pace. Walking can rejuvenate creativity while a nature-setting can help release stress. Aside from this, outside meetings can help with privacy if you have an open office concept.
