Mar 07 2008
18 Send an Agenda Beforehand
Meetings are the lifeblood of any business so how you manage a meeting is key to getting things done. Whether it be meeting a client, investor or business partner you can make better use of your time by following a few basic rules:
1) Always send an agenda beforehand. Not only does it help fix the thought process for both parties it signals to your counterpart you’re not in it to waste anybody’s time.
2) Best Agendas have one point on them. If everyone’s there to address one collective objective chances are you’ll meet it. Be wary of agendas that are comprehensive lists. Ask the other party to name the one point they’d like to address and go with that.
3) If you’ve covered the key point, end the meeting. A good meeting lasts 30-45 minutes max. Once you’re over that unless you’re hammering out legal technicalities, you’re stretching the meeting and the interest of all parties involved. I remember distinctly a meeting I had with a highly effective salesperson. Agenda agreed in advance we covered the key points in 15 minutes at which point he stood up and said, “looking forward to working with you”, shook my hand and then left. Most people would be too afraid to leave early but it sent out a clear signal he valued everyone’s time. Needless to say he was one of the most productive salespeople I have met.
4) Always set clear follow ups and action points. Never end a meeting without agreeing the next steps. If you have, you’ve wasted everyone’s time. Be clear and always follow up with what you’ve agreed to do.
5) Cut the initial chit chat. Save that to afterwards. Don’t be afraid to initiate the meeting. If the other party is stuck in the chit-chat loop then they’ll probably welcome you taking the initiative and starting the meeting. Save the chit-chat to afterwards, you’ll find that it’s far more conducive to relationship building.
