5 Ways To Deal With Unproductive Meetings
As business owners, it is our job to make sure our business keeps growing. Momentum is key. Our days can get so busy that we need to make sure we do everything that we can, to keep them as productive as possible. Unfortunately, one of the most common ways to slow down momentum is something many of us do daily: meetings.
More specifically: unproductive meetings.
To make sure that you continue building momentum and not allowing meetings to slow you and your team down, here are five tips that you can start to implement today in your approach to keeping meetings productive.
1) Set A Clear Outcome
Every meeting should have a clear purpose that answers the questions, “Why are we meeting? What is the desired result of this meeting?” If participants cannot state the purpose, the meeting should not occur until everyone is clear. Communication - with an agenda attachment - well in advance of the meeting is crucial.
2) Keep It Small
The number of people in the meeting should be limited to those who are absolutely necessary for achieving the desired outcome. You’ve heard “Too many cooks in the kitchen?” Well, too many meeting participants slows down progress. If more voices need to be heard in order to make a decision or achieve the desired results, this information should be gathered prior to the meeting.
3) Have a Meeting Facilitator
You need someone facilitating the meeting. This person keeps the group on track with time expectations, makes sure all voices are heard and feel safe in sharing, and holds the group accountable to the final outcome.
4) Keep it Simple
With a clear agenda focused on one specific outcome, there will be fewer opportunities for veering off course. Set a time limit for how long the group can discuss the topic. Once that time limit is up, your group must decide: can we make a decision and plan to move forward? Or do we need to gather information and set up a future meeting? Either way, it’s important to put a limit on the number of topics and how long each topic can be discussed.
“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.”
5) Always Know The Next Steps
Set aside time at the end of the meeting to ensure next steps are documented, clear, and all participants understand their responsibilities moving forward.
As an owner, your approach sets the tone for all future meetings. It is critical that you and your team are increasing your business momentum with each scheduled meeting.
My name is Selina Johnson and I'm a Business Support Expert providing Virtual Business Support to businesses. We help SME's with administrative, technical and creative support so you are free to grow your business and increase your profits.
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