The Top Ten Tips For Successful Meetings

1. Ask yourself if a meeting
is really necessary.

Often the same things can be
accomplished via phone, e-
mail, etc. Use your office
technology to its fullest
potential.

2. Pick a leader.

If it's not you, pick someone to
lead the meeting. Somebody
has to be in charge of the
meeting to ensure that it
accomplishes what it's meant
to accomplish. Decide this up
front.

3. Have a plan.

Create an agenda for the
meeting and distribute it, in
advance, to everyone who will
be attending. Ask them to
provide you with any changes
or additions to the agenda in
advance.

4. Pick an appropriate time.

Too early in the morning and you risk
people being late because of traffic.
Too close to lunch and they're thinking
of food. Too close to the end of the
day and they're thinking of going home.
Find that "just right" time, normally in
the mid-mornings/afternoons.

5. Have the meeting in an

easy-to-find location.

Pick a "common ground" for
most of the attendees. If a
meeting will be held off-site or
involves getting clients to your
location, provide clear, concise
directions.

6. Follow the plan.

You've got an agenda,
everyone at the meeting has
seen it, so stick to it. If it's not
appropriate for the meeting,
table it for another time.

7. Stay focused.

Side conversations or irrelevant
topics will always crop up,
especially as the number of
attendees increases. Stay in
control of the meeting and keep
everybody focused on what
you're trying to to do.

8. Create a "parking lot" for other
issues.

Some issues, while not
appropriate to your specific
meeting, do need to be dealt
with. When these issues come
up, take note of them and
handle them after the meeting.

9. End on time.

Never let a meeting run long.
Again, stick to your original
plan. If you find you can't get
everything done, schedule
another meeting. If you don't
finish on time it's either
because you didn't stick to
your agenda (so why should
the attendees suffer?) or the
issue really needs the extra
time and attention a second
meeting will bring.

10. Follow through.

There is nothing as frustrating as
sitting through a meeting, debating
issues, reaching conclusions and
making suggestions only to see
absolutely nothing come of it. Follow
through with all suggestions and
recommendations (don't forget your
parking lot issues). Let people know
that what was produced in the
meeting was, indeed valuable, and
worth their taking the time to attend.

This piece was originally submitted
by Jim M. Allen, Business & Life
Success Coach, who can be reached
at Jim@CoachJim.Com, or visited
on the web. Jim M. Allen wants you
to know: Defining success in your
life? Contact me for more ideas, visit
my website, or subscribe to my bi-
weekly ezine, re:ACT! by sending a
blank email to:
SubscribeACT@CoachJim.com.