There’s an old adage that states “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” This rings true for meetings, especially when it is planning and preparing. The more time you invest in ensuring that your event is well-organized, the more effective it will be.
If it’s a brainstorming session or an update on a project, or even a call with a client there are a few actions that each participant in a meeting should take to prepare for the gathering. This article will provide some easy tips to assist you in ensuring that the meeting you’re taking part in is efficient and productive.
Start by determining the purpose of the gathering is. Then, decide on the most important topics and allocate time slots to each. This will help you stay on the right track and avoid tangents that can disrupt the conversation. It will also assist you to determine the length of your meeting.
Next, collect any items that will be discussed during the meeting. These can include presentation slides reports, slides, or any other documents that help in the discussion. Be sure they are accessible to participants by either attaching them to the meeting invite or by sharing them on your internal communications channel.
Review the list of participants and determine if each person has a role to play in the discussion. If not, remove anyone with the same knowledge or decision-making authority. Finally, you should consider assigning a responsible person for each action item.
