Did you know that meetings are the number one waster in the workplace according to Verizon? The reason is because most meetings are disorganized and there is no purpose set in the beginning, causing the entire meeting to go nowhere or completely off topic. Keep reading to learn how to create a meeting agenda that will encourage a worthwhile meeting.
Prepare
Preparation is key when you are getting ready for a meeting. Do not wait until the night before or the morning of, to start preparing your agenda. At least a week before the scheduled meeting, will give you enough time to draft an agenda that will cover all of the topics you want to discuss.
You can use agenda templates to make your life easier and to help you spin the wheels on what to include during your meeting such as when the meeting will start and when it will end, and who will be participating and speaking during the meeting.
Meeting Objective
Think about what the goal of the meeting is. Having a clear objective of the knowledge you want all of the attendees to leave with is key. Focus on what will be discussed based on your specific goals.
Moderator
Having one specific person to act as a moderator to help keep the meeting focused and on track will help you not miss any important points. As soon as conversations get off track they can remind everyone to stay on track and go over what has been covered and what still has to be discussed.
If the meeting stalls your moderator can assume control and make sure the meeting does not go astray. The moderator can help you with putting the agenda together and they can also go over the final meeting agenda to make sure nothing is missing.
Bonus Tip: Outlaw Devices That Are Not Needed
If your meeting does not require attendees to have cell phones and laptops then outlaw these from the meeting. Have a basket upfront where everyone can put their phones and electronics in. Take it old school style and have pen and paper available to take notes.
If you allow cell phones and they are not necessary just one person picking up their phone for even a minute will distract everyone around them and will entice others to check their own devices.
Now You Know How to Create a Meeting Agenda Like a Pro
Now that you are aware of how to create a meeting agenda you can get to work. You can have peace of mind that your next meeting will not be a waste of time for yourself and your employees. What a relief to know that you will actually have a positive and productive outcome as long as you take our advice above and put it to good use.
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