Did you know that business executives spend about half their time sitting in meetings? In fact Chris Pontius USA Jersey , 40 to 50 percent of their working hours are consumed by meetings, according to a study by the Annenberg School of Communications at UCLA and the University of Minnesota''s Training & Development Research Center.
Meetings are inevitable - whether you''re a business executive or member of a volunteer, social, or civic organization. But meetings can be a very effective and efficient way to communicate, if properly planned and conducted. To help you pull off successful meetings Brek Shea USA Jersey , below are some key strategies to follow. You may only need to address a few of them, if you''re conducting an informal meeting. For a meeting with major consequences, you should give all or most of these areas careful consideration.
Prior to the Meeting
First, you''ll need to define the purpose of the meeting and develop an agenda with the cooperation of the key participants. Then distribute the agenda and circulate background material, lengthy documents or articles ahead of time. This will make participants feel prepared Brad Guzan USA Jersey , involved and up-to-date, so they can be ready to make valuable contributions to the meeting.
Next, choose an appropriate time for everyone to assemble. It''s also important to set a time limit and stick to it, as much as possible. Participants have other commitments and will be more likely to attend meetings if you make them as productive, predictable and short as possible.
If possible Brad Evans USA Jersey , set up the room so attendees can face each other in a circle, semi-circle - or U-shaped rows for large groups. The location you choose should comfortably suit your group''s size. Rooms that are too small can get stuffy and create tension; a larger room is more comfortable and encourages individual expression.
During the Meeting
Greet attendees and make them feel welcome, even latecomers when appropriate. If possible, serve light refreshments to help break the ice and make everyone feel comfortable.
Begin the meeting on time, so you can end on time. Start by reviewing the agenda and setting priorities for the meeting. Stick closely to the agenda Brad Davis USA Jersey , but also encourage group discussion to collect all points of view. Keep the conversation focused on the topic, and don''t hesitate to ask for only constructive and original comments.
Tactfully end discussions when they''re going nowhere or become too touchy. As a leader, set a good example by listening attentively and showing appreciation for participants? input.
Keep minutes of the meeting for future reference in case a question or problem arises. Summarize any agreements reached and end the meeting on a positive note. For example, have participants volunteer to share their views on what good ideas or positive developments they feel resulted from the meeting. And before everyone leaves, don''t forget to set a date Bobby Wood USA Jersey , time and place for the next meeting.
After the Meeting
Be sure to transcribe and distribute minutes of the meeting within three or four days. This will help reinforce the importance of the meeting and give participants a clear and accurate record of what took place. Follow up on any delegation decisions and ensure that all participants understand and carry out their responsibilities. Give recognition and appreciation to excellent and timely progress. And put any unfinished business on the agenda for the next meeting.
You should also periodically evaluate meetings and work on any areas that need improving. Remember, meetings that are effectively planned - from start to finish - can leave participants with a sense of accomplishment and enhance your organization''s overall success. Stafford Beats Tebow, Eagles Back On Track Sports Articles | November 28, 2011 Lions with victory over BroncosTim Tebow was sacked 7 times by Detroit, and the Lions turned the Broncos? quarterback 2 turnovers into touchdowns Bill Hamid USA Jersey , allowing the Michigan team to come up with another va... Lions with victory over Broncos Tim Tebow was sacked 7 times by Detroit, and the Lions turned the Broncos? quarterback 2 turnovers into touchdowns, allowing the Michigan team to come up with another valuable victory that now has them with a current record of 6-2.
Denver lost the game 45-10, and Tim Tebow was nothing like the man we saw against Miami, as at that time he brought his team back from a 15-0 deficit against the Dolphins to finally beat them 18-15. On the other hand Aron Johannsson USA Jersey , Matthew Stafford threw for 3 touchdowns and completed 21 of 30 passes against the Broncos and helped his team to a valuable victory that silenced all the critics that were throwing negative comments at the Lions for losing two games in a row.
Now Detroit is second at the NFC North behind the Packers, and fans of the all-time underdog franchise are hoping that their team is going to continue to have good luck on their side in order to keep on dreaming with a playoff seed.
Eagles top Cowboys and are 2nd at NFC East Thanks to the Eagles? 34-7 victory over the Cowboys, their head coach, Andy Reid, continues to have an unbeaten record of games won after a bye week as he is currently 13-0. With the win Alejandro Bedoya USA Jersey , the Eagles, whom were called the ?all-hype? team at the beginning of the season, are starting to get back on track after a 2-4 start, and Michael Vick seemed impressive, as he threw 2 touchdown passes Replica USA Soccer Jerseys , and LeSean McCoy finished the game with 185 yards rushing (a career-best for him) and 2 scores. The win was not only proof that Philly is back at the playoffs party, but also helped them to secure a second place at the NFC East behind the Giants.