Business Small Business

Tips on How to Plan Productive Meetings

Meetings are an essential part of any organization, no matter how big or small. In many cases, they determine the course a business takes. Major and minor decisions are taken in the meeting room all the time. However, many business meetings underutilize the power of meetings. Recent surveys show that holding ineffective meetings is one of the primary reason offices suffer from poor productivity. With these planning tips, you can hold a productive office meeting every time.

Have a Clear Objective & Share It

It is essential to know the purpose of each meeting. Ask yourself: Is this meeting necessary? Can it be avoided? Some meetings can be addressed over the email, such as deliberations to know the position of those involved. A meeting could then be held to carry out an official vote or to finalize a project decision. Determine what the objective of each meeting is, write it down, and share it along with the invite. This helps in preventing ambiguity and making sure that everyone is on the same page.

Choose an Appropriate Venue

A venue plays a huge role in meeting efficiency. Holding a meeting at a café in central London, for example, might be okay for start-ups which operate on a tight budget. But for serious meetings with clients or management, an appropriate venue is required. Your office may not be fully equipped to host a huge prospective client you intend to dazzle. In that case, simply log on to VenueFinder to find the perfect meeting rooms London has to offer based on your preferences. VenueFinder has over 17000 venues for any event in the UK and around the world.

Invite Only the Essentials

Avoid inviting people who have a tendency to hijack or derail your meeting. You know them – they talk a lot and are self-centered. Invite only the key people necessary for the meeting. If any of them attempts to derail the meeting, interrupt and call the meeting back to order.

Set a Time Limit & Stick to It

Productive meetings could be held in under 15 minutes, yet so many office meetings end up lasting anywhere from 30 minutes up to 2 hours. Given that everyone knows the agenda set enough time to run through the agenda with Q&As. Make it known at the beginning that you are timing the meeting. More importantly, stick to the time. If the time is not enough, you may adjourn the meeting for a later date. This will set the tone for all future meetings.

Follow up

It is not unusual for people to walk away from a meeting and not remember what the meeting was all about, what they were meant to do after or even be on different pages. As a moderator, it is your responsibility to follow up with each participant afterwards to ensure everyone is on the page and is reminded of what’s expected of them.

A good meeting is timely and straight to the point. Participants leave highly motivated with clear objectives on how to move forward. When done right, your meetings will become shorter but have lasting impacts on not just the participants but your business as a whole.

Related Posts

payroll accounting

Master Payroll Accounting for Business Financial Health

Whatever the size or industry, payroll accounting is an important aspect of financial management in any business. It entails the proper calculating, allocating and documenting of compensation to…

property auctions

How Property Auctions Work in Australia: A Guide for First-Time Buyers

Property auctions are a popular method of purchasing and selling property in Australia, especially in the main cities such as Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. The auction process may…

car insurance

How to Renew Your Car Insurance Online Using Chola MS

It is very important to renew your car insurance for your own safety. Driving a car in India is mandatory by law as well. People occasionally do not…

Entrepreneur vs Intrapreneur

Entrepreneur vs Intrapreneur: Differences Explained

Who has more innovation impact – an entrepreneur or an intrapreneur? Have you thought of who impacts innovation more, someone who creates a company or someone who implements…

Health Insurance with In Built Maternity Coverage

Why Choose a Health Insurance with In-Built Maternity Coverage?

When you have a child, it changes your life and fills you with happiness, hopes and expectations. Yet, undergoing treatment requires dealing with possible health issues, strong emotions…

hvac system

How Much Does It Cost to Replace HVAC System

Replacing your old HVAC system with a new one is a significant investment, and it can impact multiple things like energy bills, total value of your home and…

Leave a Reply