Did you know that around 71% of senior managers say that meetings are unproductive and inefficient? Many people that work in the corporate world spend hours of their day in meetings.
Meetings can take away time that employees have to complete their work, increasing stress and making them work later. Many business meetings involve the wrong people, extend past the scheduled time, and are unproductive.
While there are many cons to business meetings, there are also pros. Business meetings allow you to collaborate and make difficult decisions.
Do you want to learn more about having better business meetings? If so, keep reading to learn how to run a meeting.
1. Have a Purpose
One of the most important parts of running efficient meetings is to have a purpose. If you don’t have a purpose, you may not get your questions answered, you may get off track, or you may waste time.
At the beginning of the meeting, state the purpose of the meeting. This will give your team members a clear idea of why they are there. Be sure to avoid inviting anyone that can’t help you achieve the purpose.
2. Create an Agenda
In addition to having a purpose, you also should create an agenda. A meeting agenda will list out everything that you should talk about during the meeting and the timeframe for discussion.
Putting a limit on how long you discuss one topic can prevent getting off track and extending past the meeting time. Try to send out the meeting agenda before the meeting so that your coworkers can prepare.
3. Stick To the Scheduled Time
In the business world, everyone’s time is valuable. If you waste people’s time, it could hurt your company and your coworkers. When you create a meeting, make sure it starts and ends on time.
At the end of the meeting, you should send out an email to recap the meeting. If the conversation isn’t over or there are action items from your team, make sure to let them know in the email.
4. Try a New Location
Have you ever spent your entire day in business meetings? If so, you know that they can be boring and tiresome. If you want to keep everyone engaged, try to change up the location.
Whether you hold the meeting at a restaurant, coffee shop, or park, choosing a new location can increase engagement. It also can boost your coworkers’ mood because they are getting out of the office.
In some cases, having a physical meeting may not be possible. Luckily, there are several ways to hold great meetings over the internet. You can click for more information on hosting online meetings.
Are You Ready for Better Business Meetings?
Business meetings are important for working with coworkers and making hard decisions. While there are many benefits to business meetings, they can become a waste of time if you don’t follow these tips.
Was this article on running a meeting helpful? If so, check out the business category to learn more about office productivity.
