Meeting etiquette is crucial for good business, as face-time allows for clear communication and effective decision-making. However, meetings often run longer than necessary and fail to keep attendees engaged. Whether you’re meeting with partners, vendors, or employees, showcase your boardroom brilliance with these essential meeting tips. In this article, we will tell you about the key strategies to conduct successful business meeting.
Determine the Objective
So, in the list of these key strategies first tip is to determine the business meeting objective. A clear goal sets the tone for the meeting and determines its direction. Your goal should be specific and measurable. If you’re expecting attendees to brainstorm, ask each participant to arrive with a list of ideas.
Know Meeting Importance
Meetings can be expensive. Calculate the precise cost by multiplying the hourly wage of each person present by the length of the gathering. If your objective can be met through e-mail, conference call, Skype, or even a quick one-on-one discussion, skip the meeting altogether.
Invite Decision-Makers
The most effective meetings involve stakeholders who can make decisions immediately. If a key decision-maker is unavailable, ask a subordinate to attend. Ideally, this person can speak for their supervisor and take notes to report back.
Stand Up for Short Meetings
Routine meetings designed to touch base with employees and discuss status reports can usually be accomplished in 15 minutes or less. You’ll be more likely to keep the meeting short and to the point if everyone remains standing.
Schedule Strategically
To ensure full engagement, avoid Monday mornings when everyone is catching up on e-mail and Friday afternoons when employees are busy wrapping up the week. Schedule meetings on a day and time when participants are most likely to engage.
Set a Time Limit and Stick to It
Meetings that drag on for hours cause attendees to lose patience and focus. Attention spans are short, and time is valuable. The most productive meetings start on time and end on time.
Prioritize the Agenda
Don’t leave the most important topics for last. Discuss the most pertinent issues first to ensure that the highest priority objectives are met. This way, if someone needs to leave early, you’ll still have accomplished your main goals.
The agenda is an outline to keep everyone on topic and maintain the meeting’s flow. It should be kept to one page and only include main topics of conversation. Sidebar conversations waste valuable time. If participants insist on talking out of turn, suggest they talk after the meeting or schedule a separate discussion. Then immediately return to the topic at hand.
When presenting key concepts or new ideas, especially difficult models, explain why they should care. Frame the issue with a quick story and use examples to make it more relatable.
Wrap It Up Clearly
At the end of the meeting, quickly reiterate any decisions, deadlines, and clarify any follow-up actions required. All meeting participants should understand exactly what is expected of them. Schedule any follow-up meetings immediately and not forget to exchange the business cards with meeting participants.
By following these tips, you can run a business meeting that is both effective and efficient. Clear objectives, strategic scheduling, and a focused agenda are key to keeping meetings productive and engaging for all attendees.
