Are you running effective business meetings?

Imagine you are responsible for conducting a business meeting via the corporate video-teleconferencing facility. The demand for this resource is high causing it to be booked solid. You have only one hour to conduct your meeting and depart the facility before the next person is scheduled to arrive.

Preparation

You are new and your boss will be there. You recognize that this session will demonstrate your ability to communicate and apply basic principles of time management.

Preparation is a critical part of running effective business meetings. To maximize valuable time, you distribute the agenda and read-ahead materials in advance to ensure everyone arrives having reviewed the same information.

You've read all of the articles regarding time management in the workplace, but you have observed other company meetings where participants do not come prepared or on time, and you know this could have a detrimental impact on the outcome.

What do you do now?

Recruit Others to Help

You've heard colleagues complain about poorly run meetings and you want to be different. You seek out several others to form a pact, and these individuals agree to help by coming prepared. They read all materials in advance and they agree to assist you by keeping others focused on the agenda.

You now have a nucleus of participants who recognize the importance of time management and they are committed to better meetings. Your group is disciplined in its approach and before you know it, you have set the example for others and you have established a new company standard.

Leadership

Subtly, you introduce change into your workplace by demonstrating respect for others' time - and everyone appreciates that!

Making efficient use of resources, such as valuable video-teleconferencing, demonstrates you are responsible.

Running effective business meetings is all about leadership and highlights what is perhaps one of your corporate values - respect.

Prepare for every meeting as if you had to use a precious, limited resource such as a video-teleconferencing facility and always show respect for others' time!