May 8, 2009

Cancel That Meeting (Here's Why...)

In This Issue:

Feature Article: "Cancel That Meeting (Here's Why...)"

Quick Tips : "How To Run a Meeting"

Fast Facts: "The 7 Natural Wonders of The World"

* FEATURE ARTICLE *

“Cancel That Meeting (Here's Why...)”

Right now, as you read this, there are millions of people around the world stuck in meetings wondering, 'when is this meeting going to end so I can stop wasting time and actually do some work?'

Indeed, according to OfficeTeam's recent survey of 150 senior executives at the United States' 1,000 largest companies, 28 percent of meetings are a waste of time.

I'm surprised the percentage isn't MUCH higher than that!

Although I don't attend corporate-style meetings all that much these days, I'm still all-too-familiar with meetings that drag on and on, with no specific agenda, purpose or expected outcome for those attending.

Meetings where people come in late and chat about everything except the subject matter of the meeting. Meetings where the only reason people have set them is to avoid doing any work i.e. they want to 'discuss' an issue instead of doing their job to address that issue!

Having so many time-wasting meetings wouldn't be such a problem if it didn't do so much damage.

But it does.

Excessive, time-wasting meetings frustrate people, raise their stress levels and cause them to work extra hours - hours spent preparing materials for the meeting and hours spent catching up on the real work they couldn't do because of all the meetings!

Unfortunately, you can't rely on anyone else to put a stop to excessive meetings. We all need to take responsibility for putting a lid on them. Each of us needs to:

1. Only set meetings that are necessary, have a clear purpose, agenda and set of expected outcomes for everyone in attendance;

2. Only attend meetings where we have something to contribute or gain.

3. Speak up or leave if a meeting is going off track.

As harsh as the last suggestion is, I really feel that many people are losing a substantial part of their time and mental well-being by attending too many frustrating, draining and time-wasting meetings.

As such, we may need to take drastic steps - like leaving a meeting that is wasting our time - to put a stop to these time leeches!

Back To Top

* HIGHLY RECOMMENDED *

“How To Start Your Own Online Business
(With Almost NO Expense)”

If you could start your own online business, in just a week or two, with almost no expense to get started...

Would you do it?

If you said yes, I've got some good news for you...

Yes, you really can get your own Internet business started in just a few weeks. It's a lot simpler than you might think.

But I'm not talking about shady 'get rich quick' schemes or questionable biz-opps or low-paying 'work at home' plans.

And I'm not talking about selling other people's products through drop-shipping or affiliate programs.

What AM I talking about?

Click here to find out (you may be pleasantly surprised!):

==> How To Start Your Own Simple Online Business

* QUICK TIPS *

“How To Run a Meeting”

So how do you run a productive meeting?

Well, apparently there are entire books on how to run meetings. I'm not sure why it's so complicated that anyone would need to read - or write - a book on the topic, but I guess there are different kinds of meetings that have various different nuances.

In any case, my view is that running a meeting should be rather simple. First, decide whether a meeting is necessary - do you really need to speak to so-and-so or gather together specific people to discuss a given matter?

Assuming you do, the next thing is to be very clear about the purpose of the meeting, how each attendee will contribute or gain by attending the meeting, the outcomes you expect from the meeting for each attendee, and the agenda you will follow during the meeting.

Then you communicate the purpose, expectations, outcomes and agenda to each attendee before the meeting, and finally, during the meeting, you ferociously stick to the agenda.

I say ferociously because depending on who's at the meeting, you'll need to ensure that no-one intentionally or unintentionally causes it to derail.

Ideally you should take notes or minutes during the meeting (depending on how formal it is) to record what was discussed and conclude the meeting with specific action items and deadlines for each attendee.

Does it need to be more complicated than that?

Back To Top

* HIGHLY RECOMMENDED *

“How Insiders Get The Jobs They Want...
...And You Can Too!”

Studies show that 50% of all new jobs go to "Insiders"...

Not just existing employees, but people who BECOME insiders by taking a somewhat different - yet much more effective - approach to getting the job they want.

Despite this, most books, career counselors and recruiters keep telling us to apply for a job using the conventional, "Outsider" approach!

Fine... if you want to join the long queue of people waiting to get in the "front door."

But if you want to slip in the "side door"... and not settle for any old job... but land the job you REALLY want, here's how:

==> The Insider Secrets Of How To Really Get The Job You Want

* FAST FACTS *

“The 7 Natural Wonders of The World”

Do you know what the seven natural wonders of the world are?

Well, according to Wikipedia there is no real consensus over what constitutes the seven wonders. There are also different lists - not only the natural wonders, but the seven wonders of the ancient world, the seven wonders of medieval world, the seven wonders of the modern world, and so on.

A website called SevenNaturalWonders.org lists the seven natural wonders as follows:

1. Aurora Borealis (a.k.a. Northern Lights)

2. The Grand Canyon

3. Paricutin (volcano)

4. Victoria Falls

5. The Great Barrier Reef

6. Mount Everest

7. Harbour of Rio De Janiero

Check out the website for information on each... nature really is 'wonderful'!

Back To Top