Comments on: 10 Steps To Better Meetings http://www.to-done.com/2005/08/10-steps-to-better-meetings/ Working To Live Tue, 28 Nov 2006 15:04:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: LAR http://www.to-done.com/2005/08/10-steps-to-better-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-939 LAR Sun, 23 Oct 2005 03:38:04 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/07/10-steps-to-better-meetings/#comment-939 Something I've always remembered punctuated the most productive meetings I've ever attended. During the closing 'discussion' segment, anyone present was permitted to express an opinion or point out a problem. But, to keep us on point and avoid a whine party, 2 rules applied: 1) Constructive criticism only. 2) A viable solution(s) had to be offered by the person presenting a problem. Voila! An egalitarian meeting that often resulted in unique ideas and procedures. As an added bonus, in later meetings, the competitive factor kicked in, resulting in ever more innovative solutions and ideas. Hey, what more could management ask? Something I’ve always remembered punctuated the most productive meetings I’ve ever attended. During the closing ‘discussion’ segment, anyone present was permitted to express an opinion or point out a problem. But, to keep us on point and avoid a whine party, 2 rules applied:
1) Constructive criticism only.
2) A viable solution(s) had to be offered by the person presenting a problem.
Voila! An egalitarian meeting that often resulted in unique ideas and procedures. As an added bonus, in later meetings, the competitive factor kicked in, resulting in ever more innovative solutions and ideas.
Hey, what more could management ask?

]]> By: beza1e1 http://www.to-done.com/2005/08/10-steps-to-better-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-627 beza1e1 Sat, 27 Aug 2005 05:44:14 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/07/10-steps-to-better-meetings/#comment-627 Your company does have a mission statement, doesn't it? Plan one or two minutes at the beginning, where the leader repeats this vision and perhaps other general things. This helps to prevent too much diversity in discussions. I once led a group, which met weekly. Each week i began with our mission statement. I would not have thought, but each week, at least one person had not yet heared or yet forgotten our vision. Your company does have a mission statement, doesn’t it? Plan one or two minutes at the beginning, where the leader repeats this vision and perhaps other general things. This helps to prevent too much diversity in discussions.

I once led a group, which met weekly. Each week i began with our mission statement. I would not have thought, but each week, at least one person had not yet heared or yet forgotten our vision.

]]> By: WorkHappy.net: killer resources for entrepreneurs http://www.to-done.com/2005/08/10-steps-to-better-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-487 WorkHappy.net: killer resources for entrepreneurs Fri, 05 Aug 2005 16:04:55 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/07/10-steps-to-better-meetings/#comment-487 <strong>Happy Links</strong> Wired forecasts the future Will everyone be an entrepreneur? 2015: The Web continues to evolve from a world ruled by mass media and mass audiences to one ruled by messy media and messy participation... in the near future, everyone alive Happy Links

Wired forecasts the future Will everyone be an entrepreneur? 2015: The Web continues to evolve from a world ruled by mass media and mass audiences to one ruled by messy media and messy participation… in the near future, everyone alive

]]> By: jefflundberg.com/blog http://www.to-done.com/2005/08/10-steps-to-better-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-476 jefflundberg.com/blog Thu, 04 Aug 2005 22:52:28 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/07/10-steps-to-better-meetings/#comment-476 <strong>10 Steps To Better Meetings</strong> D. Keith Robinson posted some great tips about keeping meetings on track. Don't call a meeting unless you have to. Make sure—really sure—that the meeting is needed. Invite only those people who will get something out of the meeting. T... 10 Steps To Better Meetings

D. Keith Robinson posted some great tips about keeping meetings on track.

Don’t call a meeting unless you have to. Make sure—really sure—that the meeting is needed.
Invite only those people who will get something out of the meeting. T…

]]> By: Duane http://www.to-done.com/2005/08/10-steps-to-better-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-469 Duane Thu, 04 Aug 2005 17:11:04 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/07/10-steps-to-better-meetings/#comment-469 3. Have a detailed agenda. If you think you're meeting doesn't need one. you might think about not having the meeting. I like to have time limited attached to each item as well as it helps keep people from wandering off-topic. I think that agenda has to be coupled with a clear understanding of what needs to be accomplished in the meeting as well, which is not the same thing. If you start the meeting with a question like "How are we going to solve the X problem?" then it might not be possible to break it into 15 minute increments, march through them, and declare the problem solved at the end of an hour. It's very important in these situations for the team leader (point #8) to be on the lookout for crucial anchor points that open up where you can regroup the conversation and attempt to move it forward instead of spending all your time going over the same old ground. "We still haven't solved X yet, but can everybody here agree on Y? Yes? Ok, good. Y noted. Let's move on assuming that Y will be true." At the end of the meeting, then, you may not be able to guarantee that X has been answered, but you have measurable progress toward the goal. 3. Have a detailed agenda. If you think you’re meeting doesn’t need one. you might think about not having the meeting. I like to have time limited attached to each item as well as it helps keep people from wandering off-topic.

I think that agenda has to be coupled with a clear understanding of what needs to be accomplished in the meeting as well, which is not the same thing. If you start the meeting with a question like “How are we going to solve the X problem?” then it might not be possible to break it into 15 minute increments, march through them, and declare the problem solved at the end of an hour. It’s very important in these situations for the team leader (point #8) to be on the lookout for crucial anchor points that open up where you can regroup the conversation and attempt to move it forward instead of spending all your time going over the same old ground.

“We still haven’t solved X yet, but can everybody here agree on Y? Yes? Ok, good. Y noted. Let’s move on assuming that Y will be true.”

At the end of the meeting, then, you may not be able to guarantee that X has been answered, but you have measurable progress toward the goal.

]]> By: Daniel Schutzsmith http://www.to-done.com/2005/08/10-steps-to-better-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-466 Daniel Schutzsmith Thu, 04 Aug 2005 15:47:12 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/07/10-steps-to-better-meetings/#comment-466 Frank - Great link! I have flipped through their accompanying PDF for the meetings podcast session (http://www.manager-tools.com/podcasts/Effective_Meetings.pdf) and have realized they suggest one other element to a meeting...the use of a "Parking Lot". The Parking Lot acts as a place at the end of the meeting to be able to discuss anything not on the agenda or issues that may be off-topic but directly related to agenda items. Just remember that you'll want to make sure this part of the meeting process also has a time limit, usually something like 5 minutes. Frank – Great link!

I have flipped through their accompanying PDF for the meetings podcast session (http://www.manager-tools.com/p.....etings.pdf) and have realized they suggest one other element to a meeting…the use of a “Parking Lot”.

The Parking Lot acts as a place at the end of the meeting to be able to discuss anything not on the agenda or issues that may be off-topic but directly related to agenda items. Just remember that you’ll want to make sure this part of the meeting process also has a time limit, usually something like 5 minutes.

]]> By: Frank Reingold http://www.to-done.com/2005/08/10-steps-to-better-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-463 Frank Reingold Thu, 04 Aug 2005 15:02:48 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/07/10-steps-to-better-meetings/#comment-463 If you're into podcasts, the folks at Manager Tools (http://www.manager-tools.com) have a good podcast on meetings. If I remember right, it's one of 2 or 3 in a series. If you’re into podcasts, the folks at Manager Tools (http://www.manager-tools.com) have a good podcast on meetings. If I remember right, it’s one of 2 or 3 in a series.

]]> By: lifehack.org http://www.to-done.com/2005/08/10-steps-to-better-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-460 lifehack.org Thu, 04 Aug 2005 13:08:18 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/07/10-steps-to-better-meetings/#comment-460 <strong>10 Steps To Better Meetings</strong> Keith over To-Done has dropped down ten steps to get most out of meeting. Let me mention couple points which I think are key factors for effective meeting in here: Invite only those people who will get something out of the meeting.: This is the mos... 10 Steps To Better Meetings

Keith over To-Done has dropped down ten steps to get most out of meeting. Let me mention couple points which I think are key factors for effective meeting in here:

Invite only those people who will get something out of the meeting.: This is the mos…

]]> By: Financial Rounds http://www.to-done.com/2005/08/10-steps-to-better-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-459 Financial Rounds Thu, 04 Aug 2005 11:54:53 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/07/10-steps-to-better-meetings/#comment-459 <strong>Net Roundup</strong> I'll be traveling today to the Outlaws (the Unknown Father-In-Law and the Unknown Mother-In-Law). Since we head out shortly, I thought I'd "flush the buffer" and do a quick list of some interesting posts I've seen recently: Net Roundup

I’ll be traveling today to the Outlaws (the Unknown Father-In-Law and the Unknown Mother-In-Law). Since we head out shortly, I thought I’d “flush the buffer” and do a quick list of some interesting posts I’ve seen recently:

]]> By: Michael http://www.to-done.com/2005/08/10-steps-to-better-meetings/comment-page-1/#comment-450 Michael Wed, 03 Aug 2005 18:17:17 +0000 http://www.to-done.com/2005/07/10-steps-to-better-meetings/#comment-450 If meetings tend to be notoriously long meet at a place where people can't sit down and do the meeting whilst everyone is standing. My experience is that everything is being solved in a fraction of the usual time. And especially some people that enjoy hearing themselves talking too much suddenly get down to the point really fast. Try it - it works. If meetings tend to be notoriously long meet at a place where people can’t sit down and do the meeting whilst everyone is standing. My experience is that everything is being solved in a fraction of the usual time. And especially some people that enjoy hearing themselves talking too much suddenly get down to the point really fast. Try it – it works.

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