MeetingsMeetingsMeetingsMeetingsMeetings

 

It seems like I struck a nerve the other day. We all think we’re stuck in too many meetings, but don’t really know how to fix the situation. So how about a small checklist that each and every one of us uses before each meeting? As a practical matter and one that shows respect towards each other, how about at the start of each meeting, the person who convened the meeting would lead the following discussion:

• Who is the leader of the meeting?
• What’s the purpose of the meeting? What’s the desired outcome? Is it informational or are we there to make a decision?
• If we’re there to make a decision, whose decision is it? What type of decision is it (e.g. consultative or consensus)? – name the people making the decision
• Is there anyone here who does not need to be here and just needs to be notified of the outcome? Let’s respect their time.
• Are the right people in the room to make a decision? – If they aren’t, stop the meeting!
• Is the number of people in the room appropriate for what we’re trying to accomplish? If there are people who do not belong in the meeting, let/ask them to leave
• Is the length of the meeting appropriate? I think it’s Newton’s fourth law that says meeting will expand to fill all the allotted time and then just a tad more – so try only scheduling 30 minute meetings

And at the end, we should ask ourselves:

• Was the goal accomplished? If not, why not?
• Are there things we need to escalate to resolve?
• Were the right people there? Too few or too many?
• Was the allotted time appropriate?
• Who needs to know about the decisions? How are we going to communicate this? Who will communicate?

Woody Allen said “Half of life is just showing up” How about if we use our meetings for the other half? – getting things accomplished.

 

- Carl