Monday Meeting Tip: Are you PREPARED to meet differently?

You open up your calendar on Monday morning and you see that the colored blocks that dictate most of your day are meetings. Lots and lots of meetings.

You sigh, grab your notebook, head out the door and into the mass of meetings that await you. You’re not sure why you’re going to half of them. You’ll be distracted through the other half of them with email or texts. You didn’t read the pre-meeting documentation for one of them. Your project and the resources you need to complete it depends on the other one.

Sound familiar? Even a small part of it?

I thought so.

It doesn’t have to be this way. Whether you are the leader of the meeting or one of the meeting attendees, YOU have an opportunity to be better prepared and get better results from the investment of YOUR time and talent.

Here are some quick tips for being better prepared to lead and attend your next meeting!

 

FOR MEETING LEADERS

 

Ask WHY. Why is this meeting being held? What’s the purpose of the meeting?

Ask WHAT. What are your desired outcomes for the meeting? What are your expectations for the meeting? Are there decisions to be made? Actions to be taken? Tasks & Projects to be delegated?

Ask WHO. Considering the purpose of the meeting AND your desired outcomes and expectations – WHO needs to be in the room? WHO doesn’t?

Ask WHERE. Where is the BEST place to conduct this specific meeting?

Ask WHEN. When is the BEST time to conduct this specific meeting?

Ask HOW. HOW can we BEST accomplish the desired outcomes and engage attendees effectively? What is the best method for this meeting – virtual, face to face, with video, etc.?

 

FOR MEETING ATTENDEES

 

Ask WHY. Why are you attending this meeting? What is the purpose of the meeting?

Ask WHAT. What are your desired outcomes and/or expectations for attending the meeting?

Ask WHO. Who can you reach out to if you have questions about the meeting, about the purpose and expectations? Who will be in attendance?

Ask HOW. How can you be of the greatest service to yourself and others at this meeting? How can you contribute? How can you benefit?

What impact might it have if you devoted even 5 to 10 minutes of preparation time before your next meeting?

I challenge you to give it a try this week and let me know your results!

I look forward to hearing from you and learning from you!

Have a great week,

Whitney

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About Whitney Bishop

Whitney Bishop is a Change Agent who creates transformative experiences for leaders who are committed to making a difference in their own lives and in the lives of others. She has designed a proven process to help leaders and their teams elevate their questions, create new possibilities and take deliberate action. Are you ready to discover the power of possibility and experience breakthroughs that will help you have greater impact and influence in the world? Let’s talk.