- Most important, when people interact, they create ideas that
never would have occurred otherwise.
Schedule regular meetings. If you don’t have a reason to meet,
or if you have reasons not to meet, you can always cancel. Nobody
ever complains about a canceled meeting, do they?
But every time you do have a meeting, make it worth their time
and energy to be there.
Here’s how.
Get ready.
You really have to know your stuff to explain it to others. Do
your homework. Review your reason(s) for holding the meeting
and the outcome(s) you want.
Get the meeting place ready.
Make sure you’ve got the flipchart and markers and overhead pro-
jector. How about visuals? Refreshments? Put them around a table.
Get them ready.
Don’t pass out copies of a thick report to start the meeting and
then expect folks to read and react on the spot. Even the most will-
ing worker won’t be able to do a good job.
What do they need to know before the meeting? Get informa-
tion to them at least two working days ahead of time. Sure, some
won’t read it. But many will, and they’ll come prepared.
Get out an agenda.
Whatever else you send them before the meeting, be sure to cir-
culate an agenda. Emphasize action items and spell out the results
expected from the meeting. If they need to bring something with
them (like their calendars, so you can plan yet another meeting),
tell them now. Make sure all participants have a role.
Be sure to indicate a reminder of the day, place, and time on
the agenda.
S E V E N T I M E M A N A G E M E N T T I P S F O R M A N A G E R S