Learn How to Conduct More Effective Meetings

Learn to Conduct More Effective Meetings

Contributed by: Curtis Newbold, PhD

Difficulty level: Easy 

You’ve likely seen the flurry of internet memes that humorously (and with sarcastic and cynical flare) use the caption: “Survived another meeting that could have been an email.” Don’t let your meetings become that meme. If employees feel that their precious time was spent in a royally ineffective gathering, they’re going to be much less likely to attend, engage, and/or act upon the material covered in the next one.

Meetings certainly have their place and purpose, but the way we conduct them makes a tremendous difference in their success. To create the most effective meeting possible, I’ve compiled a list of key principles ordered into steps, each later discussed in detail. 

1. Determine if a meeting is needed

2. Prepare an agenda

3. Communicate effective pre-meeting messages

4. Gather materials and test equipment

5. Invite a notetaker

6. Stick to the plan, both in how long the meeting runs and content

7. Produce clear action items, roles, and dates

8. Give attendees a purpose

9. Recap with assignments and calls to action

10. If meeting is remote, take a few extra steps

Notice that Step 10 addresses extra components to consider for remote meetings. Much of what is addressed in the previous nine steps will all be relevant for remote meetings as well, but in today’s virtual world, you’ll also want to be thinking about specific extra considerations for holding meetings in online environments.  ...