Making Meetings Work

We have all attended meetings that were boring, mindless and profoundly ineffective. Meetings don't have to be a waste of time. Rather, they can be productive if the leader or chairperson practices these five strategies and gets down to the business of running the meeting instead of being run by it. People will then leave the meeting with smiles, not frowns on their faces.

Introductions.
If people don't know each other, allow participants about 30 seconds to introduce themselves to the group. You can also have a quick progress update to allow everyone air time in the beginning of the meeting.

Ground rules.
Have participants agree on ground rules, or expectations for this particular meeting. These simple rules of the road, not only set the standards, but also are gentle reminders to those who are taking a different road or direction. Some examples are: "One conversation at a time," or "We will come to consensus on these particular issues," or "What is said in this room, stays in this room."

Parking lot.
When a non-agenda issue threatens to take over the discussion, stop the meeting and write, with permission from the group, this new issue on a wall chart called unfinished business. By doing this you acknowledge the item but don't address it immediately. Parking lot issues are discussed at the end of the meeting or at a later date.

Questions.
To structure an orderly discussion of each agenda item, ask questions that address these facets of an issue: What are the facts? What are the pros and the cons? What other options are there? Where should the decision be made...at the committee level or by the entire group? What might be the next steps?

Breaks.
People work better for longer periods of time when they are able to take short breaks, no longer than 5 or 10 minutes. Breaks are a good time to get feedback on the progress of the meeting or talk with people who have been antagonistic, disruptive, or unusually silent. It's better to take a break, take the pulse, and regroup then to doggedly push on despite a sense that the meeting is getting out of hand.

Marcia Zidle, the 'people smarts' coach, works with business leaders to quickly solve their people management headaches so they can concentrate on their #1 job ­ to grow and increase profits. She offers free help through Leadership Briefing, a weekly e-newsletter with practical tips on leadership style, employee motivation, recruitment and retention and relationship management. Subscribe by going to http://leadershiphooks.com/ and get the bonus report "61 Leadership Time Savers and Life Savers". Marcia is the author of the What Really Works Handbooks ­ resources for managers on the front line and the Power-by-the-Hour programs ­ fast, convenient, real life, affordable courses for leadership and staff development. She is available for media interviews, conference presentations and panel discussions on the hottest issues affecting the workplace today. Contact Marcia at 800-971-7619.

Ball State University Selects Campus Management's Talisma CRM and Fundraising ... MarketWatch (press release) 6, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Campus Management Corp., a leading provider of enterprise software products and services for educational institutions, today announced that Ball State University will implement its TalismaŽ CRM and Fundraising ... and more »

GraphOn hires VP, product management and marketing Bizjournals.com GraphOn Corp. said Monday it has hired Christoph Berlin as its vice president of product management and marketing. The Santa Cruz-based company (OTCBB:GOJO), develops cloud application delivery and Web-enabling technologies. GraphOn Appoints Christoph Berlin as Vice President of Product Management and ...MarketWatch (press release) all 9 news articles »

Bloomberg

Most Takeovers Since 2007 Spurred by Data Torrent Bloomberg Enlarge image Most Takeovers Since 2007 Seen Spurred by Data Torrent Most Takeovers Since 2007 Seen Spurred by Data Torrent Tony Avelar/Bloomberg Hewlett-Packard Co., Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. led a 36 percent gain in technology deals last year. Most Takeovers Since 2007 Seen Spurred by Data Torrent: TechBusinessWeek Data torrent may spur biggest M&A frenzy since '07San Francisco Chronicle all 6 news articles »

Bloomberg

Losses of Japanese Electronic Firms Worsen Bloomberg Enlarge image Panasonic Reports Highest Loss Ever Panasonic Reports Highest Loss Ever Daniel Acker/Bloomberg Attendees look over Panasonic Corp. products at the 2012 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, US Play Video Play ... Sony, Panasonic Forecast Worsening Losses as Samsung DominatesBusinessWeek Panasonic yearly net loss to top $9 billionPakistan Daily Times Panasonic headed for record $10B lossToronto Sun all 107 news articles »

Mr. Carlos A. Contreras Appointed President, International Operations ... MarketWatch (press release) MIAMI, FLORIDA, Feb 06, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- BioNitrogen Corp. (BION) (pinksheets:BION), developer of a revolutionary patent-pending technology for converting renewable and abundant biomass waste into high-nitrogen urea and urea fertilizer, ... and more »

Taiwan smartphone maker HTC sees Q1 revenue lagging Reuters By Clare Jim | TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan smartphone maker HTC Corp expects to post much lower-than-expected revenue in the first quarter, underscoring analyst views that it will face another weak quarter and an uphill struggle to prove to investors it ... and more »

Bryn Mawr to Acquire Philadelphia-Area Trust Company Bank Technology News Bryn Mawr Bank Corp. in Pennsylvania is acquiring a Philadelphia-area wealth management firm from Boston Private Financial Holdings Inc. and the firm's management group. The deal for Davidson Trust Co. in Devon, Pa., announced late Friday, ... and more »

DIARY-S&P 500 EARNINGS MONTH AHEAD Reuters ... 0.72 07 Feb AMC Q4 Life Technologies Corp 1.04 22 0.90 07 Feb AMC Q4 Lincoln National Corp 1.00 19 0.92 07 Feb AMC Q4 Western Union Co 0.40 27 0.38 08 Feb BMO Q4 Apartment Investment and Management Co -0.30 5 -0.33 08 Feb AMC Q4 Akamai Technologies ... and more »

HedgeCo.net

Former Sailfish Partner Naro Launches New Firm FINalternatives Sal Naro, former co-managing partner Sailfish Capital, is launching a new asset management firm, Coherence Capital Partners. The launch follows a management buyout of the core insurance business at Jefferson National Financial Corp., where Naro was a ... Hedge Fund Manager Sal Naro Launches Coherence Capital Partners LLCHedgeCo.net Former UBS fixed income head establishes New York boutiqueInvestment Europe Former Sailfish Cap Partner Launches New FirmHedge Fund Net all 7 news articles »

Tranzbyte Corporation Acquires ProximaRF MarketWatch (press release) Altitude Organic Corporation has launched its new management company strategy in Arizona. The company can manage, staff, consult, and provide uniquely branded products and concepts to medical marijuana dispensaries using a limited liability agreement. and more »