I picked this book off the shelf only because the title resonated with me. The first few chapters are pure agony. It’s the fictional account of a staff meeting, which hits too close to home as the conversation drifts: “Where are we going to have the company picnic this year? At Lions Park again? Should we serve hamburgers or subs?” While company culture is important, I’m sure you’ve attended meetings that many people in the room – including you – had no interest in.
We all know meetings are necessary. But are all meetings making the most of the valuable time of the people in the room? This is especially important if you are working with volunteers; you know they don’t want to waste time.
So how do you make your meetings matter?
My best friend works with a company that long ago suffered through needless unproductive meetings, but no more. Their answer: Everymeeting should be structured and well facilitated. When organizing a meeting – any meeting – four key questions (PAGA) should be asked and answered.
Whether a budget meeting, a board meeting, or even a client meeting, state your PAGA at the very top of every meeting invitation. Accept new agenda items, but only if they meet the purpose of the meeting. So when someone introduces a new agenda item – “the company picnic” – you can wisely say, “Great discussion topic, but not part of our purpose today. Get with HR and bring back your recommendations…”
What tips do you have to keep meetings from getting out of hand?