Key Steps to Running Successful Business Meetings

Have you ever said that a meeting seemed like a waste of time? Well, the truth is that so many meetings are just that: a waste of time. We've also seen the "corridor" meeting that happens after, where it looks like the real decisions are made or the ones that were agreed upon are changed. Want to get better at it?

How to Run Successful Meetings: The Key Steps to Doing Things Right

We all complain about meetings that are a waste of time, and the truth is that so many of them are. We've also seen the "corridor" meeting that happens after, where it looks like the real decisions are made or the ones that were agreed upon are changed.

You'll have the chance to run your own meeting at some point in your career. How will yours go? or will you make sure it works well and does what it's meant to do?

Meetings that are run well help build teams and boost morale. Meetings that aren't run well waste everyone's time and could hurt relationships and the business as a whole.

Here's what you need to do:

There are a number of things that make a meeting work, and if you approach each one in a methodical way, your meetings will be the ones that get things done. And the praise goes to you.

Steps

1. Planing
2. Preparation
3. Information
4. Structure & control
5. Actions and records

Planning

1. What is the point of the meeting?
2. What do you hope to get out of the meeting?

What happens if the meeting doesn't happen?

1. Is there a better way to talk to people?
2. Who should go and why?

Preparation

1. Make sure the goals for each item are clear.
2. Set up the agenda in a logical way;
3. Ask for items to be on the agenda before the meeting;
4. Make and send out an agenda ahead of time;
5. Figure out the times and limits;
6. Think about what's important vs. what's urgent;

Information

1. Give out any pre-reading or information that is needed.
2. Tell everyone the time, date location, etc;
3. Make sure everyone knows what is expected of them;

Structure & Control

1. Ask people to help, but keep them on track;
2. Discuss each item in turn;
3. Be aware of what the group needs;
4. Avoid going over old ground;
5. Often sum up to get back to the point;
6. Stop discussion groups from splitting up;

Often sum up to get back to the point;

1. What to do about stress and who does it.
2. Check any assumptions;
3. Commend contributions;

Information & Action

1. Write down what was said, what was done, and who was responsible;
2. Make clear, easy minutes right away.

There are a number of things to know about how to run meetings well:

1. Take charge of times and people;
2. Ask the right people to come;
3. Look over and keep track
4. Tell people to listen to one another;
5. Write down steps;
6. Make a plan that can be done;

So, if you want to avoid the "let's all show up and see what happens" approach, you just need to take the time to think about what you really want and need to do, and then get to work. People will be grateful that you didn't waste their time or yours.