Do Your Meetings Stink?
November 2nd, 2005 by Hal
Simon Ramo claims to have attended over 40,000 meetings in his career. According to Ramo, most meetings stink. Larry Armstrong, BW, interviewed Ramo for the October 31, 2005 issue. Ramo has a new book titled Meetings, Meetings, and More Meetings: Getting Things Done When People Are Involved. Highlights of the interview:
- Meetings can be improved and many are unnecessary, but few people do anything about it.
- Be prepared for the meetings you conduct and attend. Be clear on the purpose, know who will attend, and be ready to help move the meeting along…tactfully.
- People present too much detail; they can't resist unnecessary elaboration.
- When you wake-up after dozing in a meeting don't say, "What?" say, "Why?"
Here's my one tip for meetings: listen; keep your attention on what others have to say and help them say it. Not only will attendees appreciate you for that, but you will be in the distinct position to make something happen.
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