9 Rules for Better Meetings
Many (if not most) business meetings waste time and therefore money, according to Michael St. Lawrence, author of the best-selling book If You’re Not Out Selling, You’re Being Outsold.
To ensure that a business meeting is efficient and productive, he recommends that the participants agree to adhere to the following guidelines:
Be on time.
Conduct one conversation at a time; avoid “sidebar” discussions.
Respect the opinions of others.
Respond to the topic.
Be solution-minded: When you identify a problem, suggest a solution.
Don’t try to “derail” the meeting.
Do not attack other participants.
Avoid introducing tangential topics.
Observe time limits and end the meeting as scheduled.
I estimate that by instituting these guidelines, you get the practical equivalent of increasing your workforce by 10%, or even more—but without increasing payroll costs.
