Making Meetings Work
We have all attended meetings that were boring, mindless and profoundly ineffective. Meetings don't have to be a waste of time. Rather, they can be productive if the leader or chairperson practices these five strategies and gets down to the business of running the meeting instead of being run by it. People will then leave the meeting with smiles, not frowns on their faces.
Introductions.
If people don't know each other, allow participants about 30 seconds to introduce themselves to the group. You can also have a quick progress update to allow everyone air time in the beginning of the meeting.
Ground rules.
Have participants agree on ground rules, or expectations for this particular meeting. These simple rules of the road, not only set the standards, but also are gentle reminders to those who are taking a different road or direction. Some examples are: "One conversation at a time," or "We will come to consensus on these particular issues," or "What is said in this room, stays in this room."
Parking lot.
When a non-agenda issue threatens to take over the discussion, stop the meeting and write, with permission from the group, this new issue on a wall chart called unfinished business. By doing this you acknowledge the item but don't address it immediately. Parking lot issues are discussed at the end of the meeting or at a later date.
Questions.
To structure an orderly discussion of each agenda item, ask questions that address these facets of an issue: What are the facts? What are the pros and the cons? What other options are there? Where should the decision be made...at the committee level or by the entire group? What might be the next steps?
Breaks.
People work better for longer periods of time when they are able to take short breaks, no longer than 5 or 10 minutes. Breaks are a good time to get feedback on the progress of the meeting or talk with people who have been antagonistic, disruptive, or unusually silent. It's better to take a break, take the pulse, and regroup then to doggedly push on despite a sense that the meeting is getting out of hand.
Marcia Zidle, the 'people smarts' coach, works with business leaders to quickly solve their people management headaches so they can concentrate on their #1 job to grow and increase profits. She offers free help through Leadership Briefing, a weekly e-newsletter with practical tips on leadership style, employee motivation, recruitment and retention and relationship management. Subscribe by going to http://leadershiphooks.com/ and get the bonus report "61 Leadership Time Savers and Life Savers". Marcia is the author of the What Really Works Handbooks resources for managers on the front line and the Power-by-the-Hour programs fast, convenient, real life, affordable courses for leadership and staff development. She is available for media interviews, conference presentations and panel discussions on the hottest issues affecting the workplace today. Contact Marcia at 800-971-7619.
 Google News Updated : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:51:44 GMT Obama lavished with airtime -- and criticism - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times - As the media moves to correct itself for glowing coverage of the Democrat, it's entering a period of shallow analysis. By ON THE MEDIA, JAMES RAINEY It seems like just about everybody has spent the last week beating up on the media for showering too ... Veterans group hits McCain on troop pullout 'Generation Gap' Widens in the 2008 Electorate Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:43:11 GMT Pittsburgh Cancer Center Warns of Cell Phone Risks - ABC News
ABC News - By JENNIFER C. YATES and SETH BORENSTEIN AP Writers AP The head of a prominent cancer research institute issued an unprecedented warning to his faculty and staff Wednesday: Limit cell phone use because of the possible risk of cancer. Red alert! The cellphone warning has been issued Pittsburgh cancer center warns of cell phone risks Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 00:01:03 GMT "X-Files" movie both satisfies and disappoints - Seattle Times Seattle Times - Mulder and Scully are together again in "X-Files: I Want to Believe." The story may be silly, but the agents' romance is compelling as ever. The X-Files: I Want to Believe AU Review Scully have I loved Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 06:01:06 GMT Powerful quake injures 92 in Japan - CNN
CNN - (CNN) -- A strong earthquake injured 92 people and destroyed 31 buildings in northern Japan on Thursday, authorities said. People at an auto dealership in Karumai, Japan, clean up glass shards after a strong earthquake Thursday. Japan's North Hit by Magnitude-6.8 Quake; 95 Injured (Update3) Powerful earthquake hits Japan, dozens injured Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 04:51:37 GMT Dynamo top United at soggy RFK - MLS - Major League Soccer
MLS - Major League Soccer - By Charles Boehm / MLSnet.com Staff WASHINGTON -- After two aborted tries on previous dates, DCUnited and the Houston Dynamo finally completed the first of their two league meetings on Wednesday night -- and some of Thursday morning, ... Mullan, Ching power Dynamo over DC United 2-0 Dynamo outlasts United despite lengthy delay Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:07:00 GMT Oklahoma determined to have a strong finish - Fort Worth Star Telegram
Fort Worth Star Telegram - By MIKE JONES "Our whole mentality now is WTLG [win the last game]," Harris said Wednesday. "Come out and finish. It’s national championship or bust. Sooner, the better Players put success on Stoops Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:03:29 GMT Bashir Visits Darfur, Pledges Sudan Will Protect Relief Workers - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Paul Tighe July 24 (Bloomberg) -- Sudan's President Umar al-Bashir, indicted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in the Darfur conflict, visited the region yesterday and pledged to provide security for international relief ... Bashir returns to Darfur How Sudan Was Brought to Court Publ.Date : Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:39:29 GMT Display RSS Feeds on Your Website |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... Once upon a time there lived an innocent, hardworking manager.... Read More People talk to me about making personal and professional changes... Read More As a recent employee to your job, you are becoming... Read More Based on a wild guess by a close associate of... Read More The business books at the library and book stores fill... Read More If it's so simple, why don't managers all over the... Read More As Albert Einstein said:-"The significant problems we face today, cannot... Read More I have a sign on my office door. It pretty... Read More Managers should avoid the tendency to constantly delegate to the... Read More You may remember being told as a child, "Keep quiet!"... Read More So, you survived the downsizing. Your company did something that... Read More ISO 9001 2000, Getting startedBefore starting the ISO 9001 2000... Read More Charles Petrie, from Stanford, released a short article entitled "The... Read More How do you get everyone on board the change train... Read More If Baby Boomers can get botox and tummy tucks, then... Read More In his book, The Effective Executive, Peter Drucker pointed out... Read More If you're one of the many executives struggling with finding... Read More Ellen was a clerk working for a large insurance company.... Read More I'm too busy; I'd love to but I'm very busy;... Read More IMPROVING COMMUNICATION DURING THE PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL: If the employee has... Read More Micro-Management and Delegation ... Read More Yet there is a place for those external 'raft-build's', 'away... Read More Best Definition of "Corporate Culture"If you ask 10 people to... Read More As a training manager, there are two important aspects to... Read More Does your organisation have one of those annual 'occasions' that... Read More
Adsense
websites
Once Upon a Conflict
Focus On the Prize
Management Coaching to Improve Relationships with Work Associates
Taking on Six Sigma Programs - Guidelines for In-House and Outsourcing Decisions
Never Wrestle with a PIG
3 Simple Things the Best Managers Do - And You Can Too!
Solve Problems Permanently - Ask WHY
Whatever it Takes!
Successful Managing Through Delegation
Business Fails When We Do Not Talk
Managing After Downsizing
ISO 9001 2000, Getting Started on The Route To Registration
Contract Management Software: the Solution to the Problem of Coordination
Change Management: Getting Everyone on Board the Change Train
A Corporate Facelift With Sound Bytes
What Every Manager Should Know About How to Become An Effective Executive
How to Attract and Retain the Right People
The Paradox of Job Enrichment
Is Busyness Affecting Your Business?
Performance Appraisal Scenarios: Improve Your Communication
Micromanagement and Delegation
Motivating Employees - Ten Ways to Start You Off
Instantly Uncover Your Corporate Culture
How to Manage Your People Well: Tips for Managers of Training
Getting the Most from Appraisals
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Management & Leadership - Doing it right in the 21st Century
The Old Way ? Command and ControlAlthough workplaces and management... Read More
Get More Impact From Your Annual Conference
How can you get more attention for your conference and... Read More
Strategic Outsourcing: Testing the Outsourcing Waters and Staying Afloat
Before Gertrude Ederle began her historic swim off of Cape... Read More
Ten Top Ways for Managers to Motivate Their People
So to help start the ball rolling, here are ten... Read More
Uncommon Common Sense ? Know What is the Most Important Thing in Your Business
Over 3 of my meetings with 3 business owners last... Read More
Why Your Business Needs an E-Mail Policy
Why is it imperative to have a company E-Mail Policy?... Read More
Bolster Credibility with Investors--Avoid These Phrases in Your Business Plan
Remember Papa John's commercial on TV with the slogan "Better... Read More
Project Management - I Want It ALL
The knee-jerk response to prioritizing requirements is to mark everything... Read More
MANAGING CRISIS; when you?re too good at it
When you are acclaimed for excellence during times of crisis... Read More
6 Simple Steps to Dealing with Difficult Managers
The challenge of managing difficult managers can be rather daunting,... Read More
Quality Staffing: Stop Placing the Wrong People in the Wrong Jobs
You can possibly teach a turkey to climb a tree... Read More
Hire The Person, Not The Resume
"? [get] the right people on the bus, the right... Read More
When Politics Prevent Innovation - Or? Still Fighting Battles and Losing Wars
The objective is to beat the competition and make money.... Read More
Strategies for Planning and Conducting Effective Meetings
Did you know that business executives spend about half their... Read More
Problem Solving
When problem solving, you may recognize that you were working... Read More
Issue Management Methodology for Tracking Project Issues
1. What is an Issue?An issue is an incident, circumstance,... Read More
One Simple Idea to Grow Your Business
Perhaps the most common theme I've heard in working with... Read More
Which ITIL Process Should We Implement First?
The following question is usually debated a lot amongst IT... Read More
Is this A Good Time To Sell Your Body Shop Business?
Have you ever asked yourself the question? "Is this a... Read More
14 Ways to De-Stress Employee Vacations
Employees truly deserve paid vacations. Theystruggle through stressful jobs most... Read More
Six Reasons to K.I.S.S.
Six Reasons to K.I.S.S. "Very often, people confuse simple with... Read More
Thoughts on Empowerment
People are empowered when they are given the authority and... Read More
Look Good on Voice Mail
Your use of voice mail tells others a lot about... Read More
Creative People, Innovative People
The title implies that some people are and others not.This... Read More
7 Essential Elements To Every Organizational Change
[This article is based on excerpts from the special report... Read More
Business Management |