There’s one word that is almost universally loathed by professionals: meeting. Often they drag on and on, with very little information of substance being offered and even less taken in by attendees. The general purpose of any meeting is to increase productivity or efficiency in some way, yet often they are the cause of the exact opposite. Corporate House’s conference rooms in Brisbane and the Gold Coast have hosted thousands of meetings and we have a few tips that might help you get the most out of yours.
Have a clear objective
There is no place in the world of business for vague intentions and a conference venue in Brisbane is no exception. Before you summon all your staff to a meeting, ask yourself some questions. What is the purpose of the meeting? What do we need to accomplish? Will the focus be on management, strategy or some other aspect of our business? Will you be seeking input from others? In answering these questions, you will define the purpose of a meeting, and this will go a long way to ensuring its success.
Invitations
Before you call a meeting, you should also consider who needs to attend. Consider who the meeting effects or who might contribute the most insight to a particular topic. It is far more productive to have a small, highly focused meeting than a large, disorganised one with many superfluous attendees. Smaller numbers in your conference venue in Brisbane or the Gold Coast has the added benefit of leaving non-attending staff free to do their work.
Allocate time carefully
Meetings have a tendency to stretch on well after the intended finishing time and this is often because there has been a disproportionate focus on one or more topics. Before the meeting, allocate time for each topic in appropriate blocks and email the schedule to staff. This will give them a rough idea as to the focus and priorities of the meeting and they can prepare accordingly. When you set up the conference venue in Brisbane, the Gold Coast or elsewhere, display the schedule for attendees to see, as it will increase their focus.
Manage your staff
Just as you manage time in a meeting, you must also manage people. Different personalities manifest themselves in meeting situations. You may notice a solitary voice dominating your conference venue in Brisbane. Conversely, there may be others with valuable input, but who are reluctant to speak up. Ensure that you let everyone know that, while their contribution is valued, it is a collective environment and others deserve a say.
To be continued…