Effective Meetings Begin With a Real Agenda

Everyone knows that an agenda is the key to an effective meeting. But an agenda that consists of a list of nouns, such as budget, software, and picnic, is useless. Here's how to prepare a real agenda that puts you in control of the meeting.

1) Goal. Every real agenda begins with a goal that describes the result wanted at the end of the meeting, such as: find a way to reduce travel costs by 10%. Ideally, this goal should be stated so clearly that someone else could use it to design a meeting that achieved the result.

2) Outcome. This describes the benefit of achieving the goal, and thus tells why you are holding the meeting. For example, the benefit of reducing travel costs might be that you will keep spending within budget.

3) Activities. This provides a blueprint (or set of instructions) for the meeting. Ideally, this contains descriptions of the group activities that will help you and the participants achieve your goal for the meeting. Support this list with an estimated time budget for each activity.

4) Assignments. Tell the participants how to prepare for the meeting (e.g. survey your department for travel costs during the last quarter). Also, tell them what they need to bring (e.g., bring a copy of the budget). Prepared participants make a meeting more efficient and more effective.

5) Logistics. Provide basic information on when and where you will hold the meeting. If participants are coming from other offices, be sure to include directions and maps. In general, provide all the information that people need so that they can perform at their best.

The small amount of time required to prepare a real agenda will help you hold shorter, more effective meetings.

Certified professional facilitator and author Steve Kaye helps groups of people hold effective meetings. His innovative workshops have informed and inspired people nationwide. His facilitation produces results that people will support. And his books show how to hold effective meetings. Sign up for his free newsletter at http:// http://www.stevekaye.com. Call 714-528-1300 or visit his web site for over 100 pages of valuable ideas.

Top Korean Bank Taps Teradata for Customer Relationship Management
MarketWatch - 9 hours ago
"SCFB is a leader in customer relationship management and the first bank in South Korea to utilize a full customer-focused marketing approach. ...

The Southern Ledger
Statement by Press Secretary Dana Perino
MarketWatch - 10 hours ago
The President's action authorizes the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to coordinate all disaster relief efforts ...
FEMA ramps down hotel aid as power returns Houma Courier
Statement by Press Secretary Dana Perino PR-Inside.com (Pressemitteilung)
Gustav Victims Urged To Contact FEMA, Register For Disaster Aid WDSU
Chicago Sun-Times - The Associated Pressall 504 news articles

VMS Touts New Additions to Visual Management System
Trading Markets (press release), CA - 39 minutes ago
VMSYE | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Visual Management Systems (VMS), a digital surveillance company based in Toms River, NJ, ...
ID Systems Ups Guidance for 2008 Revenue Trading Markets (press release)
all 2 news articles

Telecommuting means change in management style
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - Sep 6, 2008
And some owners are discovering that allowing employees to telecommute can require a different management style, and some basic trust. ...

Waste Management gets Litchfield Park contract
Arizona Republic, AZ - 12 minutes ago
Waste Management of Arizona has secured a five-year deal to provide trash-collection and recycling services to Litchfield Park, taking over a service ...

A giant leap for mobile customer management as Business Logic ...
Al-Bawaba, Jordan - 2 hours ago
By integrating its powerful InTeleStage Campaign Suite with Oracle’s Siebel Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, Business Logic Systems is ...

Washington Post
NEW YORK, Sept 06, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Pershing Square ...
MarketWatch - Sep 6, 2008
September 5, 2008 The Honorable Henry M. Paulson, Jr. Secretary United States Department of the Treasury 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, ...
Video: Feds Take Over Mortgage Giants AssociatedPress
FIRST WE SAVE--THEN WE DECIDE WHAT IT IS WE HAVE SAVED OpEdNews
Serious negatives in Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac bail-out Money Management
Forbes - Wall Street Journal Blogsall 5,434 news articles

Management techniques we use at work also can help keep the family ...
Seattle Post Intelligencer - 46 minutes ago
They're all good management concepts for keeping businesses running smoothly. But can they help get the laundry done and put dinner on the table? ...

Management enters divine domain
Times of India, India - 5 hours ago
AHMEDABAD: Spiritual leaders spouting cool management jargon at discourses is obsolete. With temples mushrooming across the country, and their coffers ...

Waste Management bidding for parent of local No. 2, Saguaro
Arizona Daily Star, AZ - 11 hours ago
Houston-based Waste Management Inc. wants to buy Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Republic Services Inc., parent company of local trash hauler Saguaro ...
New Trash Collection Company May Come To Putnam County WOWK
all 7 news articles

Wind Chimes and more...

Windchimes for great gifts!

Leadership: Stoking The Success Train