How to have a Successful Meeting

As the workforce adapts to the changes brought about by the pandemic, the shift to remote meetings has become commonplace. However, not all remote meetings are effective. To ensure your meetings are productive and leave you with a sense of accomplishment, consider the following key strategies.

First and foremost, always have a well-prepared agenda. Just as you wouldn’t embark on a road trip without a map, you shouldn’t enter a meeting without a clear plan. Define where you want to go and what information you aim to gather along the way.

At the top of your agenda, include a clearly stated goal for the meeting. Whether your objective is to gather specific information, review a recently completed project to identify areas for improvement, or assess your team’s progress on assigned tasks, having a defined purpose will guide the meeting’s direction.

Incorporate productivity checkpoints throughout the meeting. Scheduling a review point midway or towards the end of the agenda allows you to revisit any unfinished business and refocus the discussion on the meeting’s main objectives. This ensures that, even if the conversation veers off course, you can steer it back to the intended goal.

For larger meetings, consider assigning a moderator to monitor the chat. While not essential, a moderator can be particularly useful in managing questions and ensuring they are addressed appropriately. They can either provide immediate answers or add unresolved inquiries to the Q&A session at the end of the meeting. Before concluding, the moderator should share any outstanding questions with you so that all concerns are addressed.

By implementing these strategies—preparing a comprehensive agenda, setting clear goals, and maintaining focus throughout the meeting—you can transform lengthy meetings into efficient, goal-oriented sessions that drive success.