How To Conduct Meetings Like A Top Performer
Copyright 2006 Dennis Sommer
Everyone participates in meetings or is the host of a
meeting. Many are productive and others are a complete
waste of time. We have developed a list of techniques for
planning and holding effective meetings that will turn you
into a top performer in your profession and organization.
1. Define meeting objectives. The meeting should have a
specific purpose that you should communicate before you
start.
2. Create an agenda. List what you want to discuss and who
will lead those discussions. Put topics that require the
most brain power first.
3. Do research before the meeting. Know the audience.
Anticipate attitudes and positions. Speak the language of
the participants.
4. Invite the right people. Invite individuals who can
contribute to the meetings discussions and decisions.
5. Schedule breaks. Nobody can concentrate on a business
meeting forever. Have a 15 minute break every two hours.
6. Open with a brief statement of the meeting purpose. Your
statement should be short and to the point. Never express
your opinions in the opening statement or participants will
think they are only there to approve your ideas.
7. Lead the meeting. Many people are afraid of taking
control. Everyone wants a leader and you should take charge
of your meeting.
8. Start on time and finish on time. A perfect way to
establish your control of a meeting is to start on time.
Each item on the agenda should have a time limit. Stick to
it religiously.
9. Make sure the meeting is formal. Stick to this rule and
you will make decisions by a majority and not by loud vocal
minority.
10. You decide who speaks. This way all opinions will be
heard. You will be able to silence the domineering
participants and draw out the silent ones.
11. Never lose control of the meeting.
12. Never take notes yourself. You will be able to deal
with questions immediately rather than being distracted.
13. Provide written documents. At the meeting summarize the
document, do not read it. Make sure the meeting is used to
answer questions and make decisions. The meeting is not
used to review what everyone already knows.
14. Document action items. Deal with issues one at a time.
Document what items must get done before the next meeting.
15. Move quickly through topics. Do not stay too long with
one topic or participants will begin to think nothing is
getting done.
16. After a particularly dull meeting, assign one or more
people to prepare arguments against the prevailing
viewpoint for your next meeting on the same topic.
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Dennis Sommer is a widely respected and world renowned
authority on sales, business development and leadership
performance improvement. He is a leading adviser, author,
and speaker providing clients with practical strategies
that improve personal and organization performance. He has
held numerous consulting, sales, and leadership level
positions with Accenture, Jo-Ann Stores, and CA, Inc.
Dennis is also founder of two successful technology and
management consulting firms. Please contact Dennis at:
dennis@btrconline.com or http://www.btrconline.com
