Master the Art of Running a Meeting

Communication is an important aspect of any business—big or small. Our organization prides itself on maintaining open communication channels at all levels and among all departments. Our monthly meetings serve as a platform on which all team members can come together and share opinions, ideas, and concerns. Running effective and efficient meetings is a goal we consistently strive for. Having run a meeting a few months back, I learned a few things that may come in handy when running a meeting of your own.

First, always begin with a laugh. Ice-breakers, though sometimes dull and corny, can be great tools in motivating and energizing your group before a big meeting, if properly utilized. Laughter unifies. So take time to research a fun ice-breaker that will serve its purpose as a team building and energizing exercise. Such activities set the pace for your meeting. If you’re looking to have an upbeat meeting which serves to encourage and motivate people, a fun and funky ice breaker is just the tool to use.

Secondly, make an agenda. In college, my weekly sorority chapter meetings consistently had interesting and effective agendas. In my experience, a good agenda lists all talking points which need to be discussed in short, bullet point format. Such a format makes running a meeting easier, serves as a reminder of talking points for all involved and keeps everyone on track. Additionally, the agenda informs its reader about 1 or 2 fun facts. Like the ice breaker, these fun facts serve as a way to keep energy and motivation high as the meeting progresses.

Finally, don’t be afraid to take charge. Meetings often tend to stray off topic. One minute you’re discussing your 5 year business plan and the next you’ve somehow digressed to discussing The Real Housewives of New Jersey—okay, maybe that’s not quite accurate, but you catch my drift. It’s human nature to become distracted and wander off topic. As the leader of the meeting though, it is your responsibility to bring the discussion back on topic when the talk becomes non-business related. Be assertive and take charge. While the off-topic discussion may be light-hearted and fun, nobody wants a meeting to run long because the talk turned from business to celebrity gossip.

Do you have other helpful tips for running a meeting?

Written By: Megan Bowman