By: Patti Hathaway

Article Summary:

Guidelines and 10 practical tips for conducting an effective meeting.

Guideline 1: Provide Specific Goals and Objectives for your Meeting
1) An agenda sent out prior to a meeting is critical! List your meeting objective i.e. the purpose for the meeting) on the agenda.
2) Write out the preparation you would like the participants to do prior to the meeting. List it as the “Pre-Meeting Preparation”. Include in that list the things/items you need participants to bring to the meeting.
3) Invite only those people who can contribute to the meeting. Every person attending a meeting should be able to answer these key questions:

Guideline 2: Avoid the “Information Assumption” Trap
4) Avoid “lecture meetings”. Is there a more efficient way to distribute certain information instead of calling a meeting?
5) Prepare Action Item Minutes.
6) Get participants actively involved in the meeting: time keeper, leading, facilitating, etc.
7) Have participants attend only for the time they are needed.

Guideline 3: The “Platinum Rule” of Meeting Success
8) Are your participants “big picture” or “detail” people?
    What format should be used in the project team’s final report?
    What kind of meeting minutes will best meet the needs of your participants?
9) Start on time. Set an ending time on the meeting when scheduling the meeting. End on time.
10) Who said “Robert’s Rules of Order” increases the effectiveness of meetings? Develop your own “Rules of the Road” to meet your specific group’s objectives and needs.

Patti Hathaway is a Certified Speaking Professional and author of 4 books which have sold over 100,000 copies. Known as The CHANGE AGENT , she can be reached at 1-800-339-0973 or at her web-site www.thechange agent.com for information on her speaking services or to receive her free e-mail newsletter.

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