BUSINESS MEETINGSBUSINESS MEETINGS

Learning Objective: How to conduct Learning Objective: How to conduct effective Business Meetingseffective Business Meetings

Modified lecture . Original example from: George Shell and Roger McHaney, Modified lecture . Original example from: George Shell and Roger McHaney,

Conducting MeetingsConducting Meetings Learning how to conduct effective meetings Learning how to conduct effective meetings

is important because:is important because:

– Meetings are the place where most important corporate Meetings are the place where most important corporate decisions are madedecisions are made

– Managers spend a large part of their work week in Managers spend a large part of their work week in meetings. In fact research shows that the frequency of meetings. In fact research shows that the frequency of meetings in companies has doubled in the last 10 years, meetings in companies has doubled in the last 10 years, possibly as a result of flatter organizations (larger span of possibly as a result of flatter organizations (larger span of control)control)

– Meetings are expensive: Compensation for managers (who Meetings are expensive: Compensation for managers (who spend a lot of time in meetings) has tripled! spend a lot of time in meetings) has tripled!

– The higher ranking the manager, the more time (s)he The higher ranking the manager, the more time (s)he spends in meetings and the more far-reaching the spends in meetings and the more far-reaching the decisions made in the meetings.decisions made in the meetings.

Learning about Business Learning about Business MeetingsMeetings

There are different philosophies about There are different philosophies about learning how to conduct effective meetings. learning how to conduct effective meetings. We will approach the subject in 3 different We will approach the subject in 3 different ways:ways:

1.1. We will use a training guide such as might be We will use a training guide such as might be used in the corporate world.used in the corporate world.

2.2. We will use up-to-date knowledge/ theory on We will use up-to-date knowledge/ theory on effective meetings found in recently effective meetings found in recently published management textbookspublished management textbooks

3.3. We will hold meeting(s) as prescribed by We will hold meeting(s) as prescribed by training exercises in the literaturetraining exercises in the literature

Why hold a meeting?Why hold a meeting?

What is the objective? What is the objective? – Is it observable? Is it observable? – Is it measurable? Is it measurable?

What are the expected end results or outcome? What are the expected end results or outcome? Is a meeting necessary to achieve this objective? Is a meeting necessary to achieve this objective? What would happen if the meeting was not held? What would happen if the meeting was not held? What other alternatives are available to meet the What other alternatives are available to meet the

same objective? same objective?

Don’t hold a meeting

If you can't describe purpose/objectiveIf you can't describe purpose/objective

If there is an alternativeIf there is an alternative

When you have no time to plan or prepareWhen you have no time to plan or prepare

When key participants are not available When key participants are not available

When cost outweighs the benefitsWhen cost outweighs the benefits

Types of MeetingsTypes of Meetings

Improve meetings by -Improve meetings by -

Having Purpose and ObjectiveHaving Purpose and Objective

Identifying ProblemsIdentifying Problems

Generating AlternativesGenerating Alternatives

Making DecisionsMaking Decisions