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5 Ways to Overhaul Your Meetings Manners

September 23rd, 2008 @ 10:40 am

9 Comments

Categories: Collaboration, Productivity, Strategy, Tips, Work Life

Tags: Attendee, E-mail, Microsoft Office, Telecom & Utilities, Online Communications, Office Suites, Software, CC Holland

2547595587_880720367e_m.jpgBusiness meetings can be functional or frustrating, catalysts or catastrophes, inspirational or insipid. But it’s not always random fate that decides which kind you’ll be getting. You can help influence the tone and course of any meeting you attend by honing your meeting etiquette.

Etiquette, you say? For a meeting? But of course. In any gathering of people, a focus on good manners ensures that everyone is comfortable and that interactions go smoothly. That can enhance effectiveness and productivity during any collaborative process.

Whether you’re an attendee or an organizer, brushing up on your manners is just smart business. Here are five points to ponder.

1. Respect people’s time.

  • If you’re the organizer, try not to schedule meetings early in the morning or right before quitting time.
  • Keep meetings as short as possible and stick to start and end times. A timer can help keep things on track.
  • Show up on time, whether you’re an attendee or the organizer. Better yet, get there 5 minutes early.

2. Provide information and support.

  • Let attendees know exactly what will be discussed by circulating an agenda ahead of time. Include on the agenda not just topics to be covered, but goals and objectives.
  • If you have supporting documents or PowerPoints, send them out early as well; you want to run a meeting, not a group reading session.
  • If you’re attending a meeting, be prepared. Read or research necessary materials before showing up.

3. Observe common courtesy.

  • If you’re running the meeting, act as a moderator and field comments and questions in turn. Or ask people to jot down their thoughts and save the Q & A for the end of the meeting.
  • If you’re an attendee, don’t railroad others as they’re speaking; wait your turn. Never interrupt. If necessary, resort to the kindergarten tactic of raising your hand for recognition.
  • Heated discussion is okay, but yelling and insults are not. Ever.

4. Pay attention.

  • Turn off your phone. Don’t text, check e-mail, or play solitaire.
  • Don’t fidget, tap your pen, or do anything that could distract others.
  • Participate. Ask questions and give feedback when appropriate.

5. Say thanks.

  • As the organizer, tell everyone you appreciated their time and input. And as an attendee, thank the organizer for putting everything together.

(image by llawliet via Flickr, CC 2.0)

CC Holland is an award-winning writer and editor whose work appears in several national publications and Web sites.

 
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  •  
    1

    David 42

    09/23/08 | Report as spam

    RE: 5 Ways to Overhaul Your Meetings Manners

    good reminders. Seems obvious, but it is rare to see all 5 in
    action. Thanks.

  •  
    2

    mkissinger

    09/24/08 | Report as spam

    RE: 5 Ways to Overhaul Your Meetings Manners

    Unfortunately, most of us have "blind spots" regarding our own behavior, specifically nonverbal behavior. Try asking someone you trust (a peer or your supervisor) to observe you in a few meetings and give you feedback regarding your personal "meeting ettiquette". You may be surprised to find out the things you are doing unawares that are distracting to others or otherwise making you lest effective in this environment.

  •  
    3

    JV@...

    09/24/08 | Report as spam

    RE: 5 Ways to Overhaul Your Meetings Manners

    Simple common courtesies which, sadly are not all that
    common - and I openly admit that I am not guilt-free.

    Can't resist adding this one though - be careful of
    making derogatory asides about the chairperson, as they
    just might be able to lip-read! (as I can)

    JV at l'Attitude in Cairns

  •  
    4

    Enrico Pallazzo

    09/24/08 | Report as spam

    RE: 5 Ways to Overhaul Your Meetings Manners

    If your office uses Outlook, make sure you check everyone's schedule before sending out the event scheduler. It'll likely ensure a higher attendance rate, and it'll mean less hassle later on when you're trying to re-schedule.

  •  
    5

    littul@...

    09/24/08 | Report as spam

    RE: 5 Ways to Overhaul Your Meetings Manners

    The other important point is to make sure you invite the right people. At my work, we often have meetings of 18-20 people and most of them have no role to play in the decision making or have no interest in the discussion. There are some folks that "just attend meetings", and they can easily derail your discussion.

    Having the right audience is extremely important.

  •  
    6

    Jagadeesh Babu

    09/25/08 | Report as spam

    RE: 5 Ways to Overhaul Your Meetings Manners

    It is clear a meeting / conference, the derogation could be obsolete and the fresher employee shouln't be panicked under circumstances as there would be an observatory time towards their perfomance/ to meet the goals and objectives of the company.

  •  
    7

    glepage14

    10/03/08 | Report as spam

    RE: 5 Ways to Overhaul Your Meetings Manners

    Try to schedule meeting agendas to end with a topic that will be well received or in some way acceptable to the team. This will end the meeting on a positive note and have people leave the meeting with a positive attitude toward it.

  •  
    8

    akpotobo2004@...

    12/03/08 | Report as spam

    RE: 5 Ways to Overhaul Your Meetings Manners

    Great reminder and excellent write -up. Unfortunately in all the recent meetings i attended, the reverse is the case. i would definitely share this with my colleagues in the office

    Mariere Otah, Lagos Nigeria

  •  
    9

    jentimus

    12/19/08 | Report as spam

    RE: 5 Ways to Overhaul Your Meetings Manners

    Another way to help meetings run smoothly is to invoke the old debate rule of making your point in ten words or less.

    I once led a community asociation group that typically had 2 - 3 hour meetings. I implemented a policy that required people to begin by saying what they wanted without any explanation of why they wanted it. IF the other members wanted to hear the stories and reasons behind the request, they could request it, but if not, we went straght to a vote.

    It was a great success - most of the time, we all agreed anyway and already knew why they request was being made. Without the story telling, the average meeting time went down to about 45 minutes. It was a little tough at first to interrupt the opening launch of a story with a reminder to make the request first, but everyone (even the interrupted) agreed that the time saved was worth it.

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