There is an old adage that states “An amount of prevention is worth an ounce of cure.” This is the case for meetings, especially when it is planning and preparing. The more time that you put into organizing your meeting, the more productive it will be.
For brainstorming sessions or an update on a project, or even a client call there are specific steps that everyone in the meeting should follow to prepare for the gathering. This article will offer some tips for making sure that you attend a meeting that is efficient and productive.
Start by identifying what the purpose of the gathering. Select the topics to be discussed, and then assign times for each. This will keep you on track and prevent you from drifting off-topic. It will also help you determine the duration of your meeting.
Next, collect any documents that will be distributed during the meeting. These could include presentation slides reports, or other documents that will add to the discussion. Also, ensure that they are readily accessible to participants — either by attaching them blog here to the invite or putting them on your internal communications channel.
Examine the list of attendees and ask yourself if everyone who has been invited will have a role in the discussion. If not, eliminate any person with the same knowledge or authority to make decisions. Consider assigning a specific person accountable for each action item.