ProdPod: Episode Five - Effective Meeting Series (begins): Meetings, Meetings, Meetings

So much is talked about anecdotally of the inefficiency and ineffectiveness of meetings in the knowledge worker age. In this episode, we'll be kicking off a series to clear up some misnomers and begin to lay down some strong foundations for effective meetings, whether at home, at work, or in community group environments. WELCOME TO OUR FIFTH EPISODE OF PRODPOD, THE PODCAST OF PRODUCTIVITY TIPS IN TWO MINUTES OR LESS. I'M RAY SIDNEY-SMITH AND I'M YOUR PRODUCTIVITY GUIDE, THE CURRENT ORGANIZER OF GETTING THINGS DONE DC MEETUP & THE FOUNDING ORGANIZER OF GETTING THINGS DONE NYC MEETUP. YOU CAN FIND ME TWEETING ON TWITTER AT G T D D C AND AT G T D N Y C USING THE HASHTAG PRODPOD. THIS EPISODE'S TIP IN OUR SERIES ON EFFECTIVE MEETINGS: MEETINGS DON'T HAVE TO BE. IT SOUNDS TRITE BUT MANY PEOPLE TODAY AVOID MEETINGS BECAUSE THEY DON'T TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM. THEY AREN'T ATTENDING AND PARTICIPATING IN THE MEETINGS FOR THEM TO BE EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE, BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE OBLIGATED AND DON'T UNDERSTAND THEIR VALUE IN BEING PRESENT. STEP ONE OF AN EFFECTIVE MEETING BEGINS BEFORE A MEETING IS BORN: ASK THE QUESTION "WHY?" OFTEN. WHY ARE YOU BEING ASKED TO ATTEND THE MEETING? CAN YOU SAY NO TO ATTENDING AND JUST RECEIVE THE MINUTES/NOTES OF THE MEETING FOR NEXT ACTIONS OR INFORMATION THAT IS REFERENCE? STEP TWO IS TO MAKE SURE THE CRITICAL PARTIES ACTUALLY ATTEND THE MEETING BEFORE IT'S SCHEDULED. MAKE SURE THEY (AND YOU) KNOW WHAT THE MEETING IS ABOUT, THAT YOU HAVE BUY-IN TO THE MEETING OBJECTIVES BEFORE EVEN CALLING A MEETING. KNOW AND COMMUNICATE WHY YOU'RE MEETING AND WHO'S NEEDED IN THE MEETING, AND YOUR MEETINGS WILL EXPONENTIALLY INCREASE IN PRODUCTIVITY. THERE'S MORE TO COME IN OUR EFFECTIVE MEETING SERIES. I HOPE YOU ENJOYED THIS EPISODE OF PRODPOD. THIS IS RAY SIDNEY-SMITH AND THANKS FOR LISTENING! HERE'S TO YOUR PRODUCTIVITY SUCCESS...IN TWO MINUTES OR LESS.