Time Wasters - Meetings

The nature of small business means we often have to attend meetings or seminars for our own professional development, to update information, and to network. It is an essential part of the work we do.

Unfortunately it takes you away from work! Many meetings seem to be unnecessary, too long, or badly run. They seem to drag on and don’t solve any problems, becoming an end to themselves rather than a means to an end.

Before you attend or organise a meeting, ask if the purpose of the meeting can be achieved in some other way? You might find that a few phone calls, or circulating an information sheet with a short response section, could achieve a more useful result, in much less time.

Try to say “No”, or restrict your attendance to those meetings (or parts of meetings) that offer a benefit to you.

Remember this…

“Committees tend to keep the minutes and lose the hours”.

So, rather than make minutes, create action plans (even if it only a personal action plan)! Aim to take some type of action yourself as a result of the meetings you attend.

(This is the fourth post in the “Major Time Wasters” series)