Part I. Planning the Meeting

First, the good news: Meetings can draw from a wealth of intellects, information sources, talents, and energy; they can enhance our ability to discuss and evaluate issues, to make decisions, and to implement ideas. Now, the bad news: Most people do not manage meetings effectively. Why? Because most people put less thought into running a meeting that they put into writing a routine memo.

In the words of meeting authority Michael Begeman, “great meetings don’t just happen—they’re designed. Producing a great meeting is a lot like producing a great product. You don’t just build it. You think about it, plan it, and design it: What people and processes do you need to make it successful? But first you have to have agreement ...

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