Tweet

We Have To Stop Meeting Like This

Guest post by: Gary Silverman

Article Overview: This goes out to all of you who have sat through a mind numbing Powerpoint presentation for hours including travel time and the hotel coffee shop lunch buffet. “We have to stop meeting like this” sends an urgent plea out to management to infuse your meetings with powerful information designed to insight, motivate, inspire, and energize. You must also come to grips with the fact that some people are hardwired to write the best material and make the best presentation, and it may NOT be YOU. Park the ego at the door and enlist the best person for the job, that in itself can motivate the troops to commit to continuous improvement.

We Have To Stop Meeting Like This

When I was in the automobile business, there was no shortage of these meetings which were a veiled attempt to get the performing executive out of the cold of Michigan winters and into to the warmth, golf, and expense account ala carte steaks of Central Florida. I would suffer through the thinly prepared “morning meeting” to hit the links and suck down my share of the $125 lobster tail being passed around the table. No amount of Jolly Ranchers, free hotel pencils, and water poured from sweaty plastic pitchers could get me to accept the multi-media dribble gassing up the room. There was always the benign “media assistant” who was charged with hitting the enter button on the computer projector causing mindless snippets of newfangled acronyms and fat free jargon to come flying across the screen while the presenter was trying to catch up to the trigger fingered projectionist like chasing after the runner from Kenya at the 10K charity race.

So how do we fix this? My first suggestion is that if you insist on continuing this behavior, let everyone stay at home and do a “go to meeting” type presentation in the comfort of your own office. At least you can put the phone on mute and vent at the screen. I suggest Snickers rather than Jolly Ranchers, more appropriate and less damage to a mouth full of 30 year old fillings. What I truly suggest is that you work diligently on a format that makes good use of everyone’s time. Here are some of “Silverman’s Rules for Corporate Meeting Etiquette.

Greet everyone as they enter the room
Sit everyone quickly in a circle or semi circle
Cap the meeting at 20 minutes plus a time to field questions
Make sure the room is COLD, not David Letterman cold but 65 degrees
Eliminate note taking and a syllabus
Provide hand outs of the material AFTER the meeting to eliminate distractions
Move around the room and make eye contact with everyone
Memorize your presentation
Take the time to recognize positive results and give the group credit NOT Individuals
Eliminate the minutiae of new rules and process changes. That’s what memos are for
Sell don’t tell. Make everyone aware of how to get the desired results
Get a receipt from everyone as enthusiastic support
Build confidence and create a “can do” spirit
Make the attendees seem larger than life rather than the presenter
No snacks, beverages, or meals. They just waste time
Review and reinforce your message at the end.

Related Articles
  Meeting with People
  5 Ways to Improve Communication in Meetings
  It Is All About the Buyer
  Goals – the key to successful meetings
  Refuse to participate in a Recession!

Article Tags: ala carte, automobile business, charity race, computer projector, david letterman, dribble, expense account, field questions, fillings, free hotel, group credit, jolly ranchers, lobster tail, meeting etiquette, michigan winters, morning meeting, note taking, plastic pitchers, projectionist, semi circle



Related Forum Posts
Re: How do you budget your life? - Here is my financial management categories for today: 15% Long Term Savings; 10% Home Expenses; 45% Business and Marketing charges; 10% Friends (Meeting); 20$ Scientific and Law Books. But this will change when it is August or September. Orxan
Decide your market first - Stop for a second and decide exactly who it is that you want to sell your product to. Once you've done this you'll have a far better idea of where to find them and what it is that they're interested in Cheers
Re: Does it help to join business groups? - I think so, yes, if you can join the right group, then it can be beneficial. Meeting other entrepreneurs in various fields and industries, some are long-time entrepreneurs, others have just started, each one can learn something from the other. Business groups are great platform to get support too, especially if you want to raise a particular question. Forums like these make it easier to get help and at the same time, contribute your own insights for others. It's a give and take thing:)
Other Great Books... - Feel The Fear And Do It AnyWay - Susan Jeffers How To Stop Worrying And Do It Anyway - Dale Carnegie ('What's the worst that could happen - the worst?' Then prepare yourself for that and reality is such a relief!).
Greetings From Greg Plant - I'm an International Business Owner born in London, then moved to Somerset as a child where I still live. I'm in a loving relationship with my wife to be Jo Litster. I live life to the absolute maximum, taking part in all sorts of sports and activities, as I think it’s important to stay fit and well in all areas of life. We live in a fast changing world, and I’m the type of person who likes to control my attitude towards life’s changes, that enable me to master change, rather than allowing change to master me. Meeting and networking with like minded people is a passion of mine, and work with business owners who incorporate the internet for an income. I look forward to growing a great friendship and exchanging ideas! Feel free to contact me any time so we can keep up-dated with each others’ developments! Have a great day! Greg


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.

Tweet

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

2011 Global Brand Trends Letter

BUILDING A HIGH PERFORMING TEAM

International Employment Background Checks

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.