Meetings are a great way for employees and employers to touch base and exchange ideas.
However, if they are not carried out in an efficient manner they can end up being a drain on the company’s resources and a point of irritation for staff. In the long run, this can seriously undermine the productivity of your business. These are some simple rules for making sure that your meetings are productive:
Meet regularly
Your staff should use meetings to discuss important decisions and problem solve as a team. Regular meetings also allow
different areas of the business to align their priorities and goals, as well as keeping employees informed of any changes to the business.
Be specific
You should always be specific about the type of meeting that you are holding. One of the main reasons for this is that it makes it easier to cut down the number of staff members in attendance. One of the most common complaints relating to meetings is that people feel that they did not need to be there. Being specific about meetings also helps employees stay focused on the one topic, instead of being overwhelmed by an overload of information.
Recap your decisions
It is important that everyone be on the same page when they leave the meeting to prevent any arguments in the future. Recapping the results will also engender your staff with a sense of accomplishment.
Follow up
Any decisions or action plans made at the meeting must be followed up to implement the ideas. Following up a few days or a week later will ensure those people that have tasks to perform will actually get them done.
