My company is a tad meeting heavy. I've been doing what I can to reduce the number of meetings and make them more productive. I myself have never had to schedule a meeting for my own needs. I'm a productive user of the phone, email and instant messaging and confident enough to do things under my own initiative without a group consensus. I also have more than ample time to acquire any group feedback in the many meetings I attend that are scheduled by other people.
I'm in meetings pretty much the entire day today and I'm taking the battle to the next level. Last night I had double helpings of homemade split pea soup washed down by three beers. Lunch today is more split pea soup ammo.
Cry havoc, and let slip the peas of war!*
* Rob gets credit for this deliciously creative aliteration.
Text messaging during meetings is the best way to alleviate boredom. If that fails, spitwads work well, too.
Do your meetings have any structure to them? I found that really helped expedite meetings that were clogging my schedule. Put someon in charge, delineate the seperate issues - all previous to the actual meeting. helps prevent rabbit trails. Well, that and strongarm tactics.
That's one of the big issues, shank. There's very little structure to the meetings. Many do not even have a distributed agenda. Or even an undistributed agenda. I'm working on that bit too.
We had issues with meetings too. We went to a class hosted by Verne Harnish. He teaches you instead of a grueling 1 to 5 hour meetings about nothing to having one simple 5 minute meeting everyday. Just to see if you all are on the same page. Then, once a week instead of that meeting you have a 20 to 30 minute meeting. Each person has their specific time to talk about what ever is on the agenda. (it's usually timed). If that person has more to say then you schedule seperate time on a one on one basis. You also need someone who is in charge of the meeting(to facilitate). You have to be strict and because you can have some talkers. (my boss for example). Do it with respect. Like...I understand "Paul" that that may be an issue for you & if you have a few minutes later we could talk about it more in my office.
It really works in our office. It's painless and everyday we know what is happening in each of our jobs. If there are fires to put out. OR even when someone does something well.
His (Vernes) website is: www.gazelles.com - you may think that it's a bunch of crap. But it's worth a
look. Sorry for the unsolicited advice.
w00t ... erm ... when did I do that then?
Tiffani - Advice is always welcome. :)
Rob - You said it back on this post.
Shakespeare, nice.
Or is that Peaspeare?
Or Shakepeas?
Or ShakesPEAre?
Ehhh ... never mind.
(think i killed the joke.)