Business Meeting Myths

These myths have wasted costs companies billions of dollars in settlement money.

Myth No. 1: structure spoil spontaneity.

I once in a two-day long disaster, which cost slightly more than $ 40 000. Thirty people spent the first hour search for a topic to discuss, then spent the next 15 hours arguing about unsolvable problems. When I asked the manager, who convened the meeting, “Where is the agenda?” The answer was: “I did not want to spoil the spontaneity by establishing a structure.”

Reality: If spontaneity were a universal business practices, we would build buildings without blueprints. Of course, does not Smart Business Leader, without a plan.

The Fix: set a goal and then prepare an agenda. Ideally, this agenda should be clear, complete and specific that someone else could use it to get the session have to reach that goal.

Myth No. 2: Since my meeting, I do everything that is to say’s.

Some meetings are run like a medieval court. The chairman sits on a throne, while the verbal subjects to sit in respectful silence. The great orator justifies this with the thought: If the other people knew at the meeting worth nothing, they would be, what the session.

Reality: If you are the only conversation, is that you work hard for it. In addition, recognize that most of the people to protect themselves from extended monologues by her thoughts on a holiday. This means that no one attention to you: You are busy, daydreaming, doodling and dreaming.

The Fix: Convey large amounts of information through a memo or e-mail. Then call a meeting of participants based on driven activities that strengthen test or understanding.

Myth No. 3: Meetings are free.

Most meetings are paid for with soft money. That is, it is money that has already been spent on wages. Furthermore, no purchase is necessary inquiry. No budget must be authorized. All someone has to do is a meeting.

Reality: Meetings are very expensive. You people use the time and salary is the biggest part of running a business. If people keep bad meetings, they waste the most important resource in a company – the time people who work to earn a profit for the company and spend.

The Fix: Design sessions to earn a profit. After all, a meeting of business activities, other than a company picnic.

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