Time Management - How to Have Productive Meetings

One of the greatest time wasters of all are unnecessary or poorly run meetings. If you want to dramatically improve your time management skills, then learn how to have productive meetings.

"Brian" is the Operations Manager in a large corporation. Every Monday morning, his CEO has a managers' meeting .

This is what usually occurs:

The agenda is circulated the day before which means the managers have little time to prepare.

The meeting always starts late as the CEO will wait for latecomers. In fact, he's often late.

A couple of the managers tend to "waffle on". The CEO who chairs the meeting is not assertive enough to keep them on track.. He's also a 'waffler'.

Most of the managers sit there, bored out of their brains for a majority of the time. They also get stressed as they feel they are wasting time listening to the "wafflers".

As the CEO does not schedule a regular "catch up" time with each individual manager, many unnecessary issues are also discussed.

If this describes some of the meetings you convene then how about taking action and ensure from now on that they are highly productive.

If you're like "Brian" and you would have difficulty suggesting to others how they could improve their meetings, then I suggest you pass this newsletter on to them. Effective time management also includes effective meeting management.

"You'll do so much you'll be surprised when you get your meetings organised"

9 Ways to Improve Your Time Management by Having Super Productive Meetings

Ask yourself, is this meeting really necessary?

Do you need a face-face meeting? A phone call, email or conference call might be a better solution.

Invite as few people as possible - only have the necessary participants attend.

Have a written agenda with clear objectives - ensure it is circulated well in advance to those attending. Indicate timeframes allowed to discuss each item.

Double check the meeting venue has been organised the day before

If refreshments are supplied include water and fruit. Ensure the meeting area is quiet with no distractions.

Start and finish on time - respect your time and everyone else's.

Have an effective chairperson

Unsure who to choose? At the beginning of the meeting count up to three. At three, each participant points to the person they believe will keep the meeting on track.. The person with the most votes is elected.

Circulate the minutes within 48 hours

Ensure all actions have the appropriate person written next to them.

Stand up and stretch every 30 minutes - it's good for your mind and body.

Ensure all mobile phones and pagers are turned off - it's amazing - people have been known to survive without their phones and live to tell the tale.

Good time management is also about using your time wisely when attending meetings. If you can enforce these guidelines, you'll be happy to attend future meetings knowing that your time isn't being wasted.

About The Author

Lorraine Pirihi is Australia's Personal Productivity Specialist and Leading Life Coach. Her business The Office Organiser specialises in showing small business owners and managers, how to get organised at work so they can have a life! Lorraine is also a dynamic speaker and has produced many products including "How to Survive and Thrive at Work!" To subscribe to her free ezine visit www.office-organiser.com.au

This article may be reproduced providing it is published in it's entirety, including the author's bio and all links. For further information please contact Lorraine Pirihi; lorraine@office-organiser.com.au

---

How To Decrease Profits Without Really Trying

Hurting your sales efforts can be accomplished easily with the... Read More

Communicating When A Crisis Strikes

How would you handle communication if your business or practice... Read More

Diversity in the Workplace

As you look around your office, is everyone just like... Read More

Profits and Business Success - 5 Profit Traps to Watch Out For

The old saying 'You have to spend money to make... Read More

Employee Turnover: Is It Eating Up Your Profits?

Keeping the cost of doing business down, yet providing a... Read More

Training Managers and New Trainers

Training managers use many of the same interpersonal and analytical... Read More

Poor Employee Performance: How to Deal

KEEP WRITTEN RECORDS: "Document !Document! Document!" Keep a record of... Read More

One Thing You Cant Hide

One of the most important of all motivators at work... Read More

Before You Head Off, Make Sure You Know Where You Are Going - The Importance of Clear Objectives.

The title of this article sounds like simple advice, but... Read More

2 Steps For Increasing Company Profits or Performing Business Turnarounds

1. Eliminate wasteEliminate reports, habits, products, duplicate input, and processes... Read More

Communicating Effectively In The Workplace: Four Vital Steps

Ineffective communication is a major, yet avoidable, obstacle to business... Read More

Get Over Yourself

Let me tell you a secret.Things don't always go the... Read More

Allowing Employees Responsibility

Merely assigning a task with detailed instructions is not effective... Read More

Driving of work trucks

Each time you or one of your work crews cruises... Read More

Real Costs in Distribution and What it Means To Your Company

Ever feel that all the lawyers in thh Country need... Read More

Managing After Downsizing

So, you survived the downsizing. Your company did something that... Read More

The Narcissist in the Workplace

To a narcissist-employer, the members of his "staff" are Secondary... Read More

The Higher You Go

The higher you go, the cooler it becomes. Really? Let... Read More

Prioritise Your Day - Keep Focus - Win!

Whether you run your own business or manage a team,... Read More

Biometrics and ?Return On Investment?

At this time of tight budgets, the mantra of business... Read More

Why Businesses Fail - And What You Can Do About It!

Have you unintentionally set your business up for failure?No one... Read More

11 Strategies on How to Work in An Open Plan Environment

Many work environments now are open plan, with only a... Read More

Success in Business Means Managing Negative Emotions

You may have the MBA but if an internal critic... Read More

Leadership in Troubled Times

Leadership in Troubled Times The... Read More

How to do SWOT Analysis for your Business

SWOT analysis is needed for all business to understand how... Read More

Offshore This! (Outsourcing Tech Support Overseas)

So I call my telephone company and someone picks up... Read More

Competencies for HR Professionals in Knowledge-based Industry with Reference to IT, ITES-BPOs

Introduction"High performing HR function affects bottom line nearly 10%"- A... Read More

Is Chess Good for Management?

The game of chess has been applauded and taught in... Read More

Understand What Flows Through Your Business to Find Improvement

I remember once seeing a cartoon which showed two people... Read More

Passion for Profits

Business owners and managers are busier than ever. As their... Read More

Selecting a Business Broker or Intermediary to Help You Sell Your Business

As crazy as it seems, some people spend more time... Read More

How To Manage A Difficult Employee

Having to manage a difficult employee is never fun and... Read More

Interviewing Candidates: 3 Ways to Avoid Snap Judgments

Have you ever hired the wrong person? If so, perhaps... Read More