Have you ever attended a meeting and felt like it was a waste of your time? I think we all have . . .
Maybe that meeting was mandatory, maybe it was simply volunteering your time.
Whatever the case, your time is limited and it pays to make sure that you leave every meeting that you attend with something that helps you move forward with either your goals or your intentions.
Here are 5 best practices to remember when you attend any meeting:
1. Every meeting that you attend or schedule should have a clearly specified purpose and well thought out agenda. What this means is you should know what you wish to accomplish before you sit down and begin. Even if the meeting has nothing to do with your personal or business goals, maybe there will be someone in attendance that you need to connect with and otherwise would not see. If this is the case, schedule a time to meet them either before or after the meeting to get what you need from them. Make every meeting count, even if it is not about the business discussed during that meeting.
2. When scheduling meetings, always leave a minimum of 15 minutes between each appointment. For field calls, 30 minutes is best. This buffer will keep you on schedule regardless of traffic, late clients or the unexpected.
3. Meetings that are not directly related to generating revenue should be grouped together, preferably at the end of the week. These meetings are the necessary busy work in your business representing matters that need attention to but are not top priority.
4. Show up to each meeting with a list of questions and topics that will help you during the following week.
5. If you attend regularly scheduled meetings, keep a folder for that meeting on your desk and add questions or topics that you need to discuss with the others in attendance. Take that folder to your meetings and get your agenda handled no matter what else happens during that meeting.
Remember:
“Use every meeting that you attend to your advantage. Always know what you want to achieve before you walk in the door."
by Kathi Burns, Certified Professional Organizer
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