ProdPod: Episode Six - Effective Meeting Series: How to Keep a Meeting on Time

THIS EPISODE'S TIP IN OUR SERIES ON EFFECTIVE MEETINGS: STARTING AND ENDING YOUR MEETINGS ON TIME BUILDS A CULTURE OF TRUST. WHETHER IT'S A FAMILY COUNCIL ON FINANCES OR A CORPORATE BRAINSTORMING MEETING ON NEXT YEAR'S MARKETING PLAN, KEEPING MEETINGS ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE IS A PRIME MEANS TO GETTING PEOPLE TO ATTEND AND KEEPING THEM ENGAGED. THIS EPISODE'S TIP IN OUR SERIES ON EFFECTIVE MEETINGS: STARTING AND ENDING YOUR MEETINGS ON TIME BUILDS A CULTURE OF TRUST. WHETHER IT'S A FAMILY COUNCIL ON FINANCES OR A CORPORATE BRAINSTORMING MEETING ON NEXT YEAR'S MARKETING PLAN, KEEPING MEETINGS ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE IS A PRIME MEANS TO GETTING PEOPLE TO ATTEND AND KEEPING THEM ENGAGED. HERE ARE A FEW TACTICS I SUGGEST YOU TRY FOR YOUR NEXT MEETING: ONE. REVIEW THE MATERIALS TO BE COVERED IN THE AGENDA. DOES THE TIME ALLOTTED ALLOW FOR A FULL DISCUSSION OF TOPICS? CAN THE TIME BE SHORTENED OR DOES IT NEED TO BE LENGTHENED TO BE REALISTIC? TWO. COMMUNICATE THE START AND END TIME EXACTLY TO YOUR ATTENDEES. IF THE MEETING IS VIRTUAL (USING TELEPHONE OR VIDEO CONFERENCING TOOLS) MAKE SURE TO INDICATE THE TIME ZONE FOR THE TIME YOU INDICATED. THREE. BEFORE THE AGENDA IS PASSED OUT, LET EVERYONE ATTENDING KNOW THAT THEY SHOULD KEEP TO THE AGENDA AND ANY NEW ITEMS CAN BE TABLED FOR A LATER MEETING UNLESS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL. FOCUS IS KEY. AND A BONUS TACTIC: BRING AN EGG TIMER OR SOME OTHER ALARM. I USE THE TIMER ON MY IPHONE THAT GIVES A PLEASANT BELL TOWER GONG MELODY WHEN WE'RE FIVE MINUTES BEFORE THE MEETING IS ENDING, SO WE CAN WRAP UP DISCUSSION AND DEFINE NEXT ACTIONS AND WHO THE RESPONSIBLE PARTIES ARE. 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.