10 Great Ways to Turn
Running a Meeting
into Ruining a Meeting
1. Everyone knows most meetings are a waste of time, so don't bother to read any notes that may have been sent round beforehand - you can probably pick things up easily enough as they go along.
2. Be late.
3. Spread your papers on the table, rustle them as much as you like, and doodle over all the most important bits.
4. When it's boring, yawn audibly, and pick your fingernails while other people are speaking. Or have a chat to the person next to you. In fact, feel free whether it's boring or not.
5. Take your sandwiches in and unwrap them as noisily as possible. If you've forgotten your sandwiches, place the biscuits where you can get at them whenever you want and everyone else just has to gaze at them wistfully.
6. Feel free to shoot other people down in flames when they express opinions - and jump in as soon as you like; you can always guess more or less what they're going to say so there's no need to let other people hear it. (If someone shoots you down in flames, sulk.)
7. If an argument breaks out, practise topping everyone vocally, adding emphasis by wagging or jabbing your finger at the offending parties. And then tell the Chair to shut them up - after all, it's not your responsibility to make the meeting go well.
8. It's best to begin any questions with an exasperated sigh and the words "I suppose...," followed by the most negative assumption possible - e.g. "I suppose you're going to keep us all here until after five o'clock?" rather than "What time are we aiming to finish?"
9. If you're a smoker, make a lot of fuss about needing cigarette breaks. If you're a non-smoker, make a lot of fuss about people who need cigarette breaks.
10. If things get really dull, have a nice little kip.
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On the other hand...
If you are truly not guilty of any of the above, the chances are you're better at participating in meetings than you think.
But then again, if you could do with a few more positive tips and techniques than the ones given above, why not seek help from a professional facilitator in Making the Most of Meetings?
Hem-hem, if we could have your attention a moment...
Been to any good meetings lately?
Or are your meetings an indubitable drag, as people waffle on... or pick an argument... or fall asleep?
So how can you make sure your voice is heard no less (and no more) than anyone else's, and that the meeting makes decisions wisely, swiftly - even enjoyably?
Next time you finish an unsatisfactory meeting, just before you start blaming the Waffler, the Snorer - or (more likely) the Chair for everything that went wrong, scroll down through the 10 points on the left...
They're the last in Play4Real's current series of invaluable freebie tips on how NOT to do business.
And just supposing you recognise anything you read - remember, Play4Real can help you and your colleagues make small changes... that mean BIG differences.
Imagine: meetings that not only get the business done, but even feel like fun...?
This instalment completes Play4Real's current series of surprisingly pertinent pointers -
yours to keep in perpetuity, completely FREE!
So What's Next?
Look out for the start of a whole new series of practical tips arriving in your Inbox soon!
We'll be sending you easy-to-apply advice...
...to boost your CONFIDENCE!
...polish up your SKILLS!
...and illuminate your UNDERSTANDING!
...about making the right impact
on the right people -
wherever you do business!
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