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RUNNING A GREAT MEETING: PART 2
In last month's newsletter we talked about how to organize a great meeting. This edition outlines how to be the attendee that everyone wants at their meeting.
Participant Responsibilities
Good preparation and active management can go a long way to making meetings more effective. Only prepared, active and courteous participants can make meetings great. Respect the objectives of the meeting organizer, and the time of the other participants by following these guidelines:
- Respond to all meeting invitations and changes as quickly as possible.
- Read all pre-reads, do any pre-work, and come prepared to each meeting.
- Always arrive on time. If, at the last minute you plan not to attend, let the organizer know.
- As a participant, don't try to run the meeting; allow the chair or the facilitator to do their job.
- Give the meeting all of your energy and attention. Turn off your cell phone, pager and PDA!
- Do not leave a meeting and do not allow others to interrupt you during a meeting.
The way meetings are conducted is actually a key part of a company's culture. Changing culture takes a lot more that just issuing a policy. There needs to be a general sense that poor meetings are not good for business, and a commitment to change, at all levels of the organization. If you would like to attempt something similar in your own firm, consider the following advice:
- Do your homework. Be prepared with costs and benefits to sell your point that good meetings are good for business.
- Enlist broad support.
- Enlist high level support.
- Consider using a consultant.
- When developing new meeting guidelines, be sure to specifically address your company's issues and concerns.
In many companies, meetings are single most expensive activity, and the single biggest target for complaints. With so much at stake, why are we willing to live with mediocre meetings?
Do you have accountabilty for business planning? Could you use a proven, comprehensive planning process complete with tools, templates and diagrams?
Simply click on the link to the left, or paste this into your browser: http://www.planningbootcamp.com/bookkeepers
