10 Tips and Tricks for Better Meetings [UPDATED]

Think back on the last two weeks. How many meetings did you sit through where you thought this is a complete waste of time?

Regardless of the role you typically play in meetings, Whether you are the meeting planner, facilitator, or an attendee, and that meeting is with your team, colleagues, or your son’s Soccer team, you can turn those boring, pointless, and unproductive meetings into valuable events for all attendees.

In this article, you’ll learn some tips on having better meetings, from determining when and how to plan a meeting to figuring out meeting logistics, facilitating the meeting, keeping stakeholders on topic, and following up on action items.

How to Manage Meetings Effectively

1. Determine the purpose of the meeting.

Before you plan a meeting or agree to attend a meeting, determine the purpose. Ask yourself the following questions:

• What are the objectives of this meeting?
• What is the goal? What do we need to get out of this meeting?
• What decisions need to be made?
• What is the agenda?
• What is the appropriate meeting length and time?