For most employees, meetings are something they are required to sit through before they can get back to work again. And considering how futile some meetings are these days, it’s not difficult to understand why they feel this way. So, how are you going to make that all-important upcoming meeting that’s of vital importance to you feel worthwhile to the people in attendance?
How to Make Your Next Business Meeting a Success?
Here are some impactful ways of making sure your next meeting ends successfully.
Dress for the occasion
It doesn’t matter whether you’re a manager who has already established your role in the company or a junior employee who is pitching a big idea to a room full of frowns, the way you dress up will play a vital role in how the meeting goes.
Keep it stylish and simple but add a few accessories like a good wristwatch or some smart glasses just to add that extra layer of authority. You’re showing the room that you are taking this seriously and respect the process. If you can do that, the room will respond in kind.
Acknowledge the people in the meeting
Before you delve into the meeting itself, give yourself a short window of time for a hello and to thank everyone for being there. You might even find it effective to mention everyone there (depending on the number of attendees) by name and why you feel they’re an asset to achieve your goals.
Input, discussion and debate in meetings are perfectly fine as long as everyone is heading in the same direction. By taking some time to acknowledge the people in the room, you reduce the chances of petty internal squabbles or misunderstandings taking place and overshadowing your meeting.
Express the objectives
We’ve all sat in meetings that took hours and got nothing accomplished. In fact, most meetings these days could have just been sent in an email. So, why is your meeting any different? What objectives do you have, and how are you hoping to achieve them?
If you’re hoping to get the whole team’s perspective and participation then make that clear. Many people go into a meeting assuming they’ll be talked at for an hour before going back to their desks. Express what you’d like from the meeting clearly in order to get the most out of the time you have available.
Summarise at the end
No matter how simple or brief the meeting may have been, it’s best to hit home the key points of the meeting at its conclusion. This helps to remind everyone of why the meeting took place in the beginning and reduces any confusion with regard to what’s expected of people moving forward.
Thank everyone for their contribution
Even if the contributions weren’t quite up to par, or the meeting was to close a deal, it’s always a good idea to thank everyone for allocating their time and efforts. When people feel that they’ve had a part in something successful, even a simple meeting, it keeps everyone on the same page and focused on the overall objectives.
Putting the above steps into action can keep your meeting clear and cohesive while also helping to streamline the purpose of your meeting in order to deliver faster results.
