Fix Meetings - From Seth Godin

Love this short and focused post from Seth Godin called, Getting Serious About Your Meeting Problem. I would like to second Seth's comment about the importance of adding value. He suggests that if we are not adding value, we should leave. I agree! So many people focus on how a meeting is wasting his or her time, but I have not heard as many people wonder whether they are contributing fully enough. You see, only that last thought has the power to change things. As long as we all shrug our shoulders like the poor helpless victims that we aren't, not much will change. Check out all 9 of Seth's recommendations.

And can we add a cell phone signal scrambler into the meeting room remodel budget? Perhaps trap doors under each chair that give way when BP gets too low....

Comments

[Andy Meyer]

I think there's a simpler approach. Institute in a rule: If a meeting is not adding value for you, get up and leave.

The beauty of this rule is its reciprocal nature. If I'm sitting in one of your meetings and its not meaningful, I'll get up and leave. If you're sitting in one of my meetings and its not meaningful, you'll get up and leave. Very quickly, we will both learn.

Peer pressure is a wonderful thing.

[Lisa Haneberg]

Yes, good one. I hope more people have the courage to do that. Another favorite strategy of mine - hold fewer meetings in the first place.

[Michael Kroth]

Seth is great - as is Lisa!

Thought you might enjoy his recent post on presentations. Pretty sound advice for those of us - most anyone doing anything - who give a lot of them.

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/04/the-hierarchy-of-presentations.html

Michael

[Lisa Haneberg]

Thanks, Michael. Yes, we are the perpetuators of great or lousy meetings depending on how well we do these things.