Handy rules for better meetings

It’s such a universal truth it’s like a bad joke: most meetings suck!

When they’re bad, they are the epitome of bad corporate culture, inefficiency and mediocrity. But they don’t have to be.

Innovative companies like Google and Apple understand that meetings are necessary, but that they don’t have to be bad because they don’t have to be done the way they’ve always been done.

Whether you’re the CEO or the low man on the totem pole, you can take it upon yourself to use one or more of the following suggestions to improve meetings where you work.

15 Ways to make meetings work:

1. Do I need to be there?
2. If yes, then prepare.
3. Define an agenda
4. Provide background material ahead of time.
5. Prepare key questions.
6. Prepare key points you want to make.
7. Start at an odd time.
8. Every meeting should have a leader.
9. No tech at the table.
10. Avoid formal presentations.
11. Try standing or walking meetings.
12. Keep it short.
13. Set an end time. And stick to it.
14. Walk away with actionable next steps.
15. Document the meeting results and distribute them.

The biggest takeaway here is that meetings should respect everyone’s time and actually accomplish something.

Remember that change comes from within. Even if you’re not in a position to dictate how everyone in your company runs their meetings, you can have a positive impact on the meetings you organize and attend.

Source: Why Most Meetings Suck and 15 Simple Ways to Have Better Meetings