The motivation to be more productive at work is never stronger than in the first few weeks of a new year. The feeling of being given a fresh start encourages us to try and improve our lives both personally and professionally, and to attempt to learn from the mistakes of the past twelve months and do better in the coming year. One way to improve your productivity at work is to be more effective in meetings.

Have a Pre-set Agenda

Whether you are chairing the meeting or simply attending it pays to have an idea as to what you wish to achieve from it before you get there. If you are running the meeting then chances are you have taken time to think about what you want to say and why, but you can still dig a little deeper and set yourself some personal goals. If you are an attendee then think about ways in which you can use the meeting to your advantage. If there are any issues you are struggling with which are relevant to the topic then now could be a good time to bring them up.

Take Notes

In a conference room environment it can be easy to become distracted or to gloss over a point without fully understanding it. Taking notes allows you to review the key points made afterwards and ask any questions you may have at the end of the meeting. It also gives you a reference point for any follow-up activities you may need to perform.

Listen

This may seem obvious but it goes for everyone, including the meeting chair. It is often forgotten that a meeting, although it has a leader, is a team exercise and everyone should be given the opportunity to contribute. As well as leaving time for asking questions at the end the meeting chairperson should make time to ensure everybody is on the same page and respond to any queries or problems as they arise.

Be Punctual

If you are late you not only miss what could be vital information but you disrupt everyone else as well. Show respect and turn up on time for meetings.

Only Invite Relevant Personnel

There is no need to waste employee time in meetings that are irrelevant to their role. Less is more when it comes to meeting attendees – only invite those who have something to contribute or who will be affected by decisions made. An employee is generally more productive at their office desk than in a meeting.

Support Decisions

In the meeting itself you have the right to disagree with any point made and argue as to why you believe it is the wrong course of action, and to expect others to listen to what you have to say. However, once a decision has been reached, either by vote or by higher powers, you are duty-bound to support that decision as it is put into practice.

This article was provided on behalf of Chairoffice.co.uk – a small business that provides equipment for office environments including office chairs & desks etc.