Great meetings with significant outcomes are actually simple to implement

I would like to share Insight #85 from my book "The Dangerous Book for CEOs” with you. 

Great meetings with significant outcomes are actually simple to implement. Follow the "What goes into a great meeting" template to absolutely transform your meetings.

• There was a clearly stated purpose to this meeting, and everyone had a written copy of the agenda that reflected that purpose before the meeting began.
• The specific action items to be accomplished during the meeting were assigned clear time budgets. (Example: We will spend up to 15 minutes discussing X issue, at which point we will make a decision.)
• At least one full day ahead of time, everyone knew exactly how long the entire meeting was scheduled to take and where it would take place. If there were remote participants, they were given accurate information about how to log in/join.
• The meeting started on time.
• Everyone who was supposed to attend the meeting attended it.
• There was no one at the meeting who should not have been there.
• The meeting did not blend strategic concerns with operational concerns. (These are two different meetings.)
• During the meeting, people generally understood and respected each other’s communication styles. (Action Learning Sets are a good way to facilitate this.)
• Everyone who wanted to say something had the opportunity to be heard.
• People spoke openly and honestly.
• The atmosphere was respectful; there were no insults, scores to settle, or personal attacks.
• No one person or group of people dominated the meeting’s conversation.
• People who were not initially forthcoming about joining the conversation were given a chance to participate, and they were made to feel welcome.
• Everyone who attended contributed to the meeting.
• Once each of the relevant discussions concluded, it was clear who was doing what next and why.
• The time budgets for each topic were observed.
• The conversation was focused and did not meander.
• Someone was tasked with taking notes, took notes that were both relevant and concise, and distributed these notes after the meeting.
• The meeting concluded on time.
• The participants felt that the meeting could not possibly have been conducted just as effectively via email.
• The participants felt the meeting, or at least some portion of it, was necessary.
• The participants felt the meeting was well run.
• The participants felt the time they invested in the meeting was well spent.