When will This Meeting be Over?

A THOUGHT FROM JENNIFER

How to Lead Quality Meetings - Part 1

“How can I get my work done with all these meetings?”

“Why am I?even in this?meeting?”

You’ve likely heard or even said something like this. It’s no surprise.?

It turns out that:

• Over 50% of meetings are considered a waste of time.
• The estimated cost of unnecessary meetings in the U.S. alone is $37 billion per year.
• 67% of employees say poorly organized meetings are their biggest time waster.

It doesn’t have to be this way! Meetings don’t have?to suck.?

You can run good, focused, productive meetings that make progress and equip attendees with insights and resources, but doing so doesn’t happen by accident.?

Over the next few issues of Collective Thoughts, I’ll share about:

• How to prepare for a meeting.
• How to run a meeting well.
• How to keep the meeting time focused.
• What to do when you’re stuck in a bad meeting.

I’ll kick this series off with one of the best meeting questions I ever heard. I was on a call with?Alan Ritari?at?Agathon Group, and the meeting leader (not Alan) had no agenda — he just wanted to “check in on progress.”?

The first thing Alan asked when the call started was,?“How will we know when this meeting is over?”

I initially thought Alan was just really impatient, but I quickly realized that his question forced the leader to articulate why we all were there and what we needed to get out of our time together. That 60 minute meeting ended in 43 minutes!?

I haven’t run a meeting the same since.

(PS: check out?this article?for more stats on meetings.)

On the journey with you,

Jennifer Hamel, PMP

POINTS TO PONDER

What are your top 3 biggest struggles when running a meeting?

Think about an excellent meeting you attended. What made it productive and worthwhile?

TIME SAVER

Maximize Efficiency with Harvest and Ramp

By Gordon Wu , Operations Manager / Project Coordinator

Wearing multiple hats often is part of the job at nonprofits. At Way Forth, I work as both a business manager and a client services provider, so I have to wear different hats on a daily basis, too. To make my workload more manageable, here are two essential tools that not only are easy to set up and use?but also?save me valuable time!

• Harvest:?We’ve tried several timekeeping tools through different payroll and accounting systems, but Harvest stands out for its precise time tracking and effortless invoicing. It integrates seamlessly with QuickBooks and has cut down time spent on client billing by half! Harvest works perfectly for tracking time spent on tasks like grant writing, fundraising, and admin work.
• Ramp:?This tool streamlines expense management. Ramp allows us to issue both virtual (mobile pay) and physical credit cards, and we also can make vendor payments and process reimbursements very easily. We are on the free tier and still earn 1.5% cash back!

Together, these tools empower nonprofits to operate more efficiently, save time, and ensure accuracy in both timekeeping and financial management.

BRAIN BREAK

Earthing 101

By Phanith Yaletchko, M.A. , Project Strategist

Ever heard of?earthing?or?grounding? It’s the simple practice of reconnecting with nature by walking barefoot outside or using conductive materials indoors to sync your body with the Earth’s energy.?

Sounds relaxing, right? But it’s more than just a good feeling! Studies show that earthing can reduce stress and pain, improve mood, and even lower inflammation.

So, next time you need a brain break from work, why not give it a shot? If you’re working from home or the office, try stepping outside for a quick walk on the grass, sand, or dirt with bare feet—just 5-10 minutes can help reset your mind. Even if you’re in a colder climate, no worries! You can try?grounding mats?indoors for a similar effect.

Adding a bit of earthing to your daily routine is an easy, natural way to refresh and recharge during a busy workday. It’s like a mini-mental vacation—right at your feet!

Thanks for reading!

Your friends and fans,

Way Forth Collective

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