Conducting effective meetings tip #2

 

Albert Einstein said, “A theory should be as simple as possible, but not simpler than that”. 

Similarly, a meeting should be as short as possible, but not shorter. People hate meetings because many of them go much longer than needed. I recently heard of one meeting where the chairperson asked several people to come and told them to expect a 2-hour session. That's not a meeting. That's several people coming together to argue and work at the same time. 

A meeting is for discussing difficult issues and coming to agreements, so that everyone can move forward with their work. Focus on what needs to be decided, and let people go back to their work. 

Conducting effective meetings tip #1

 

Don't have a meeting. Most people hate meetings and find them a waste of time, and indeed often they are. The first thing you should ask before calling for a meeting is whether it is necessary. Sometimes a phone call is enough. Or an email, an announcement in a chat group. Sometimes you don't need to involve that many people. Meetings are for discussion and debate. If your goal is only to inform, it shouldn't be a meeting. If it is to instruct, it shouldn't be a meeting. Don't do unnecessary meetings. Save everyone's time.