Make Meetings More Effective
We all hate meetings, but some simple tips can facilitate better communication for better meetings.
Newswise press release: Meetings are often the bane of the workplace, but a Purdue University expert says a few simple guidelines can make office gatherings productive instead of a source of boredom or dread.
Taggart Smith, a professor of organizational leadership and supervision in the College of Technology, says one of the key factors to running a good meeting is to make sure it’s needed in the first place.
“Every meeting should have a clear objective that is communicated on an agenda distributed in advance,” she says. “This helps focus the meeting so participants stay engaged and on track.”
The meeting agenda also should include all topics to be discussed, the time allotted to each item and who will be responsible for its implementation.
* Distribute the agenda, along with any materials to be discussed, at least three days before the meeting date. That gives everyone a chance to come to the meeting ready to discuss the issue and take action instead of wasting time reading over papers.
* Meetings should generally last no more than an hour because participants’ attention will begin to fade.
* If a meeting must exceed an hour, do something creative, like break up into brainstorming groups or offer refreshments.
* A good rule of thumb is to cover no more than five specific items per meeting.
* Discuss the most important item first because the most time is usually spent on topics early in the meeting.
Related Web site:
Department of Organizational Leadership and Supervision: http://www.tech.purdue.edu/ols/