Meetings are essential for any business. They give everyone an opportunity to share ideas and be kept up-to-date on important information. However, anyone who has ever worked in a corporate environment is all too aware that meetings can become a drawn-out, ineffective waste of time and money. One of the key ingredients for a meeting that is effective, engaging, and efficient is strong communication. Take a look at our three tips below to make sure your next meeting is a success!
- Communicate Goals in Advance: One of the biggest issues with meetings is getting sidetracked. Meetings can get derailed by people going off on tangents or spending too much time on one topic while others are ignored altogether. Before the meeting takes place, send out an email with a full agenda, including the goals of the meeting and how much time you would like to dedicate to each. If everyone is aware in advance of the goals of the meeting and how much time is available to address each of them, it will be much easier to keep your schedule on track.
- Speak Up: One of the biggest issues in a group setting is miscommunication. If you don’t fully understand someone’s point or miss part of what they’ve said, speak up. Even if it doesn’t seem critical at the time, misunderstandings can be an enormous waste of time and energy in the long run, and odds are if you’re confused, so is someone else. Asking questions and requesting clarification can go a long way towards avoiding long-term misunderstandings.
- Remember the Two “C”s: When speaking in a business meeting, don’t forget to be clear and concise. Remember that the main point of a meeting is communicating information, not trying to impress your colleagues with your oratory skills. Before you speak, think about what you are going to say and make sure you’re making your point in the clearest, most direct way possible.
If you are looking to polish your communication skills be sure to pick up a free copy of my e-book “Communicate with Clarity and Confidence!” by subscribing to our newsletter community on our website. For additional information call us at 212-308-7725 or send us an e-mail at jayne@corporatespeechsolutions.com to learn more. I’d be more than happy to answer any questions you might have!
