Check Lists:Management/Meetings

Meetings
To manage meeting is often more difficult than it looks like. This check-list help you to be prepared for your meetings.

The meeting planner check-list

 * The meeting manager. Whom shall host the meeting: If you are not able to host the meeting be sure to appoint someone else.
 * The facilitator
 * Meeting objective must be clear and communicated to the meeting participants.
 * Do we really need this meeting or is it possible to cancel the meeting: It is required to evaluate if the meeting is necessary. A lot of meetings are held with no real contents and no clear objective.
 * How log time is required for the meeting.
 * Meeting type: Decision making or information exchange.
 * Meeting Environment: Teleconference, Physical, A work in the park: Often people think better while walking!
 * Participant list: Do all this people need to participate: Don't waist your colleges time: Only invite the relevant people for the meeting.
 * Formalities: Do you need a agenda and minutes of meeting: Be shot most people don't have time to read log minutes: Focus on decisions taken.
 * Take a minute to evaluate own experience from previous meeting on same subject or type of meeting.

Meeting execution check-list

 * Start at scheduled time. Don't wait for all invited people (Unless your culture dictates otherwise: Evaluate if you want to change that in the future). Most organizations loose important work time becaust meetings do not start as scheduled.
 * Keep to the agenda.
 * Keep the schedule: Some of the participants might have other appointments after the meeting!
 * Be sure you capture the conclusions and the decisions of the meeting.