“That meeting could have been an email.”
If you’ve never heard it, thought it or said it – seriously, what do you do for a living?
Meetings are a fact of business, but if they’re not managed well, they suck time and energy like a Hoover of inefficiency.
Here’s how to run meetings that actually work.
Know the goal. Never, ever meet just to share updates; that’s what email, Slack and other asynchronous platforms are for. Only meet when a topic requires discussion. Put the goal on the invitation so everyone knows why they’re there.
Have an agenda or format you share at least 24 hours before the meeting. When the conversation wanders, steer it back on track.
Arrange topics in order of urgency. That way if the meeting runs over time, it’s the least important items that get pushed off to later.
Don’t let the loudest voices dominate the conversation. Give everyone a chance to speak. Otherwise, why are they there?
Don’t schedule open-ended meetings. Have an end time and stick to it. Challenge yourself to wrap up early.
Don’t close the meeting without establishing next steps for everyone in the room.
Within 24 hours after a meeting, send an email that sums up decisions made, actions taken and what comes next.
Implement these tips this week and watch the time magically flow back into your calendar. It’s the next best thing to actually getting more hours in the day.
Still need a few more hours? A virtual assistant can definitely help and we can help you find the perfect match for you!
