Tweet

3 Myths That Stifle Most Meetings

Guest post by: Milly Sonneman

Article Overview: Why do some meetings work…but many die a dismal death? Get the low-down right here on the 3 big myths that kill most meetings-and learn the truth that will set you free.

3 Myths That Stifle Most Meetings

Why do some meetings work…but many die a dismal death? Get the low-down right here on the 3 big myths that kill most meetings—and learn the truth that will set you free.

If you’re fed up with meetings where you don’t get anything done, it’s a valuable question to answer. Imagine what could happen when meetings actually work, instead of being accepted as “a complete waste of time!”

As it turns out, there are four commonly held myths that form the root cause of many tired and tedious meetings. Grab a pen. Take some notes. You’ll have a prescription for healthy, interactive and highly productive meetings.

Myth 1: Logic Rules

Logical thinking and precise reasoning are a crucial power in business meetings. In fact, a clear logical structure saves time, reduces uncertainty and helps everyone stay on track.

But. There’s a ‘big but’ in the equation. Logic alone is not the ruling guide for a successful meeting. It must be balanced with creativity, emotion and passion.

If you’ve had it with boring meetings, it could be that you and the meeting planners are relying to heavily on a purely logical progression.

Truth: Passion Convinces

In meetings, emotion and passion are driving forces. If your audience is all a buzz with important news affecting your industry, start there. Don’t go step-by-step with the agenda you built last month. Go with the passion and the buzz of the moment.

Once everyone is onboard with the hot topics, you’ll have a much easier time steering into the other logical items that deserve critical attention.

Myth 2: Evidence Trumps Rapport

Whether you are planning a client meeting, prospect pitch or briefing your superiors, evidence is extremely important. After all, you want to gain credibility and provide tangible evidence.

Evidence is a whole lot more important than waving your hands in the air and jumping up and down. But there’s a crack in this myth. All the evidence in the world won’t help you win over a group if you haven’t built rapport. That’s why it’s very useful to balance ‘evidence’ based presenting with building rapport and trust.

Truth: Rapport Convinces

Funny thing, right? If you build rapport, relate human to human, and are authentic, people listen. Crazy busy decision makers and smart leaders are looking for more than just facts and figures.

Of course, you need to back up theory and friendliness with solid evidence. But when you build rapport first, then people are much more open to listen to what you have to say.

Hint: try this at work—and at home. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at what happens when you build rapport first, and then provide evidence.

Myth 3: Precise Words Are Critical

Precision is the home zone for most corporate business people. Precise words. Precise punctuation. Precise spelling. Precise layout. More than once HR directors have been known to hit the ceiling over the use of a wrong word or faulty comma.

But are precise words going to really create highly productive meetings? You’d think that with all the attention to precision, this would be the single most important key to unlock creativity and effectiveness. But it’s just not true.

Truth: Simplicity Convinces

The fact is that a few simple words—and pictures are more convincing than all the perfectly chosen words in a corporate report. Precision in words often leads to a lot of words. But few people these days have the attention or bandwidth to wade through 300 slides.

Instead, people want to see a few slides with simple words and simple to understand pictures. We are in the era of ‘less is more.’

No question, precision helps. Just don’t fall victim to believing that more precise words will get more decisions, more deals or more productive movement. Simplicity is radically more convincing.

If you are spending all day in meetings, take a few moments to adjust your choices. Look at your agenda. Consider your story. Plan your presentations so everyone understands—instantly. Are you ready to transform your business meetings with powerful presentations? With a small investment in planning for passion, rapport and simplicity, you’ll reap huge rewards in productivity.

Related Articles
  Meetings, Bloody Meetings
  Seven Marketing Myths that Devastate Business
  Clearing Up The Myths About Strategic Thinking and Planning
  THE “SECRET RECIPES” OF LEADERSHIP
  Five MLM Myths You Must Dispel Before Your Prospects Will Join You.
  Is having a website a requirement in the RFQ RFP process today
  Making Meetings Matter
  Clearing Up The Myths About Seeking Advice and Help, According To Your Strategic Thinking Business Coach
  What IT Systems Are Critical for a Retail Supply Chain?
  Do Not Fall Into These Internet Home Based Business Myths
  Advantages of One-on-One Computer Training
  The Secrets To Managing Ineffective Meetings - 9 Proven Tips Which Make You Fail
  How Emotional Intelligence can help you Handle Any Meeting
  The Employment Tests Myth
  The Top Ten Myths And Realities About Business Coaching According To Your Strategic Thinking Coach
  Ten Steps To Effective Meetings
  Shattering The 5 Most Dangerous Presentation Myths
  Halve Sales Costs
  Can you have high accountability if you don't have consequences?
  Unlock Your Natural Abilities to Increase Sales

Article Tags: business presentation skills, online presentation skills raining, online presentation training, presentation skills, presentation skills online, presentation skills training, total presentation skills training, total training, whiteboard presentation skills online, whiteboard selling, whiteboard selling online



Related Forum Posts
Partner with them - Welcome to the Group TMR, Some ideas of people you can partner with for the Custom Napkins: - Wedding Planners - Photographers - Annual General Meetings for Corporations - Pageants - Hotels - Elite Restaurants - Elite Spas
Building an Advisory Board - Steps 5 & 6 - hello Again! I am happy so many of you are interested in this thread. It is a great idea to build an advisory board and one that I know will generate many results for you. Step 5 & 6 are quite frankly housekeeping issues, but they are important. 5) Get the most out of your advisory board meetings. Prepare meetings well in advance. Set an annual calendar and make sure everyone is committed to being there. Chose a site that is comfortable and free of distractions as well as has the amenities you need. We once held a meeting at my house, which was a nightmare with dogs, and cats wandering around, the phone constantly ringing and my husband and son showing up early. Never again! Set an agenda with careful thought, get input on it and send any materials out well in advance of the meeting. You dont want your advisors reading stuff at the meeting. Meetings should be for good discussion, idea generation and action planning. Follow up the meeting with minutes and/or a formal action plan. Dont be married to your clock but also make sure you run the meeting effectively and dont abuse people's time. If you say meetings end at 8pm - make sure you are on time. If you think you are going to run over, get everyone to agree to that in advance. (even if its 7:30 you could say, I think we need to spend more time on this tonight. does anyone have an issue with staying past our 8pm time for tonight?? if you have step 6 working good - you'll get honest feedback) 6) Ask for Honesty. while honesty to me, should not be something you have to ask for, in some cases it pays to be really really clear about what honesty means to you and to the others in your group. you have to allow everyone to express their thoughts and ideas, openly and frankly. this is no time to take things you dont like personally. I like to ask my board members what their mistakes on a certain topic were. It helps me learn from them and not have to face it the hard way on my own. If you foster open communication and honest feedback, focussing on problem solving and resolutions (not defending the mistake etc.) you will get further ahead than you even dream possible. Remove the EGO's from the room if you can. And always remember, the board came together because they believe in you, your business and your integrity. Capitalize on it!


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Attracting Passionate Employees

Are You Reaching Out?

The True Cost of Employee Turnover

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.