{"id":2569,"date":"2014-02-03T09:53:55","date_gmt":"2014-02-03T14:53:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.changinglanes.biz\/?p=2569"},"modified":"2014-02-03T10:19:26","modified_gmt":"2014-02-03T15:19:26","slug":"meet-with-purpose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.changinglanes.biz\/index.php\/2014\/02\/03\/meet-with-purpose\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet with Purpose"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"meetinghands\"<\/a>Did you just return from that horrid Monday Morning Meeting and wondering “why me?”.\u00a0 Well, Tiffiny, Jeff and I often feel that way, too, on various meetings we attend.\u00a0 Tiffiny gives us a great idea on a checklist and Jeff talks of the cost of meetings this Monday.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Before\u00a0I even get to the scheduling a meeting, I want\u00a0to meet with purpose and see five things are needed:<\/p>\n

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  1. The Purpose<\/strong> – Why is this meeting necessary? Could it be handled with an email or memo? Are the correct people being invited?<\/li>\n
  2. The Meeting Leader<\/strong> – Identify who will be leading or facilitating the meeting. If this is not the natural leader, make sure the facilitator and team members understand the function of the facilitator is to keep the meeting moving forward successfully.\u00a0 The facilitator needs to understand they are in charge of the meeting regardless of the position to the team members<\/li>\n
  3. The Time Frame<\/strong> – People need to know the time they will be leaving the meeting.\u00a0 Meetings can always end early but a well managed meeting will realize that others will have other obligations beyond the meeting.<\/li>\n
  4. The Agenda<\/strong> – A written agenda PRIOR to the meeting is a must and should include location and particulars like parking, road closures, etc.\u00a0 A meeting without an agenda in my book is a social event.\u00a0 An agenda is more than a list of who is speaking, it gives the framework to get to the desired outcome.<\/li>\n
  5. The Desired Outcome<\/strong> – People want to know at the beginning of the meeting, what will we be trying to achieve.\u00a0 Some meetings will not meet the desired outcome, to the facilitator will be sure to let all know what was accomplished on the path to the desired outcome.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    All these can be expressed in an email to the attendees so they come not only well prepared but ready to work.<\/p>\n

    Now, there are different types of meetings and all have their place, but letting people know before hand is key:<\/p>\n