We spend a lot of time in meetings — around four to 12 hours per week, according to Wired, and business founders and executives might find themselves stuck around a conference table or in a Zoom call for 20 or more hours per week. And while meetings can be important, they can also drain time and energy, especially if they lack a clear objective or run long from technical issues or idle chatter. Keep reading for some crucial guidelines to keep meetings short, snappy, and effective.
* Schedule shorter blocks of time. If you can get it done in 30 minutes, schedule 30 minutes. Don't schedule an hour "just in case" if you know you won't really need it — there's no need to overbook everyone.
* Invite only the necessary participants — remember that more people will make the meeting longer. You can always send email updates after the meeting concludes to share information with those who didn't attend.
* Choose an effective meeting facilitator. If you're not the strongest choice to run the meeting, ask someone else to lead the meeting. Remember that the meeting facilitator is responsible for keeping the meeting on track and on time.
* Always prepare an agenda ahead of time. Keep small talk to a minimum at the beginning of the meeting and then stick to the agenda. Outline target discussion times for each topic — short discussions might require only five to ten minutes, while major agenda items might need 20. Include those times on your agenda and use a timer if necessary.
If any coworkers still need convincing about short meetings, try showing them how much money those meetings really cost. Visit https://meetingking.com/meeting-cost-calculator/ to figure out the total.
