Planning a Meeting 101

Just a few quick tips for planning a meeting, whether it's a phone call or in person;

1)  Invite the right people
All too often I'm invited to a meeting where there is absolutely no reason for me to attend, and it's not because I'm not important.  I'm kind of a big thing around here (toot toot).  More often then not is because people assume the roll I play and don't truly know what I can and can't do. The solution; if you're not sure if someone should attend give them a a quick call, tell them what you are meeting with others about and see if they feel it would be important to attend.  If they chose not to and they should have then the blame falls on them.

2) Be prepared
Why should I care about what you have to say if you didn't care enough to prepare for your own damn meeting? I didn't schedule it so don't think I'm going to run it.

3)  If I need to contribute let me know ahead of time
If your idea of a meeting is to have me provide details about XYZ then give me a heads up.  I shouldn't have to walk blindly into the lions den with nothing more than my good looks and a Papermate.

4)  Show up on time
Again, if you don't care than I don't care.

5)  Keep your cell phone in your pocket
During our meeting the most important thing should be what we are meeting about.  Unless the Commissioner is calling and needs you to save Gotham City keep your attention on one thing and one thing only, the meeting at hand.

Off the top of my head those are the 5 big peeves I have.  Of course there are others, like stop printing out 90 page docs that no one is ever going to look at or make sure there are enough chairs in the conference room, but 5 seems like a good place to stop for the time being.

And yes, this rant started with a useless meeting invite.