Four tips for a good meeting

It really isn't rocket science.

Afters years of scheduling meetings, taking notes at meetings, and attending as a participant here are my quick tips to a good meeting:

Start the meeting on time:

No one wants to be kept waiting.

If people arrive late, do not review what they missed, ask them to get the information from another participant after the meeting and let them know they are expected to be on time for the next meeting.

Invite the right people:

Only invite the people directly involved in the topic for discussion or, taking it further, invite only the decision makers. They can disseminate the information to their team(s) after the meeting. This will allow them to manage their teams, their projects, and build their management and team building skills. Win/win/win.

Share the agenda ahead of time:

If you want relevant and insightful discussions during the meeting, allow the participants enough time to review the agenda and any relevant documentation to be discussed ahead of the meeting. This means sending the information at least 24 hours in advance.

Finish the meeting on time.

By running late you are affecting other people's time. If they are in your meeting and are unable to leave, they will be late for their next meeting which is disrespectful to all involved.

A good meeting requires preparation, one might even say as much preparation as an email would take.

Food for thought ...