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How To Run Meetings That Work


Here are some great tips from authors Michael Mankins and Eric Garton about how to run meetings that work:
  • Be sure a meeting is appropriate. Meetings are great for gathering input and coming to a group decision. They aren't so good for drafting a strategy document, for example. Ensure a meeting is the best way to get the job done.
  • Set a clear -- and selective -- agenda. A clear agenda communicates priorities. It also tells people what they can safely postpone or ignore.
  • Insist on advance preparation
  • Practice good meeting hygiene. Start on time. Clarify the purpose of every meeting. Spell out people's roles in decisions. Create a decision log that captures every decision made in a meeting. 
  • End early, particularly if the meeting is going nowhere.
Mankins and Garton are the authors of the book, Time, Talent, Energy.

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