Efficient and Effective Meetings - Top 10 on Why Meetings Typically Go Wrong and What to Do About It

First, we need to sort out the difference between an efficient meeting and an effective meeting. A meeting is considered efficient when everyone sticks to the agenda and mortgage co in a meeting that is absolutely needed. A meeting is considered effective when predetermined objectives have been achieved at the van insurance quote of the meeting. A meeting needs to be both efficient and effective. Otherwise the meeting is considered a waste of time and money.

Here is my top 10 list on why used car donation typically go wrong (a), and what to do about it (b):

1a. The agenda is poorly planned. In worst case, there is no agenda at all.

1b. Make sure to plan and distribute the agenda in good time before the meeting.

2a. There are no predetermined objectives. No one knows what should be accomplished, not even the meeting leader.

2b. Be clear about the objectives in the agenda.

3a. The meetings suffer from lack of preparation. Much of the work that should have been done before the meetings is actually done during the meetings, which is an awful kind of waste. Imagine ten people in a meeting doing nothing while two people are busy with meeting preparations like printouts, figures, etc.

3b. Collect all necessary information in beforehand. Prepare everything in detail.

4a. Often there are too many people invited to meetings. Often the wrong people are invited as well.

4b. People not absolutely needed should not be invited. Make sure the group is competent to make decisions.

5a. Meetings have a tendency to start late. Often the whole group is awaiting one or two people for five minutes or more.

5b. Start on time. The latecomers will soon learn to arrive on time, especially if you do not update them.

6a. Meetings usually run out of time. Ten to thirty minutes Kansas Lemon Laws is more common than no overtime at all.

6b. Allot the correct time to each agenda item and stick to it. You need to distinguish between urgent and important issues and prioritize the latter. Important but not relevant issues should go in the "parking lot."

7a. Poor organized meetings always suffer from interruptions or poor behavior from meeting participants.

7b. Make everyone agree on ground rules like start and finish on time, everyone participates, stick to the agenda and allotted time for each issue, challenge ideas and not individuals, etc.

8a. A meeting with no clear objectives drives confrontational behavior and conflicts among the participants.

8b. Make sure the objectives are clear and that everyone fully understands them.

9a. Meetings usually end with no actions assigned.

9b. Make sure to assign agreed actions to individuals. Record the name and due date. Only assign actions to people in the room. Never assign actions to a group.

10a. Actions assigned on a previous meeting are not completed.

10b. Make individuals accountable by making them present their action status.

Daniel Garplid is the publisher of Blebble Management Tools | Earn more Money, Respect and Status in Your Career. For more management tools and tips visit http://www.blebble.com/