Meetings
The monthly department meeting is next week, and you’ve already heard from four people who want to appear on the agenda. You expect a few more to chime in. It’s your job to create an agenda that affords adequate time for each item, as well as to make sure the meeting runs smoothly and ends on time. Your best approach? Annette Marquis, co-owner of TRIAD Consulting, recommends building an adjustable meeting-agenda template in Excel.
You may not realize it, says executive coach Jenni Prisk, but your boss might love to have you as his or her mentor.
Meetings are notorious time-wasters, so protect your boss from ineffective sit-downs. When someone invites your boss to a meeting, ask these five questions:
When you socialize at a business event or wait for a meeting to begin, you can use the opportunity to forge relationships and let your personality shine.
Head off surprise assignments.
If you’re spending too much time managing who can use which meeting room when and what equipment they will need, turn to software for a solution.
Casual. Corporate casual. Business casual. Smart casual. Resort casual. Don’t leave meeting attendees baffled about your event’s dress code. Explain what you mean by "business casual" or "corporate casual," etc. with examples of appropriate attire.
What to do when your boss is late.
For your meeting to model efficiency, ensure that the agenda includes these five elements.
Someone always comes late. Someone goes off on a personal tangent. Someone adds her “two cents” and butts in no matter what. If the participants often derail your meetings, start each one by agreeing on the ground rules, advises Charlie Hawkins, author of First Aid for Meetings.
Give yourself an extra few seconds before you burst in.
