Common problems with a team & business meeting
Chapter 5 p.8
Also see: How to manage a meeting
OK, I admit my last team meeting was chaotic. But what could I do? Some people kept on asking what’s the point of the meeting, others engaged in side conversations… Can you tell me what went wrong?
Common problems in work-related meetings usually centre around either poor preparation for the meeting or lack of control during meetings.
But how will I know what to focus on?
Poor preparation is often reflected in one or more of the following:
- No agenda.
- No/unclear objectives stated for the meeting.
- Purpose not defined.
- Too many items on the agenda.
- Agenda items not prioritized.
- One agenda item monopolizes the meeting.
- Invitations that are vague or misleading.
- Chairperson unprepared.
- No prior research about issues.
- Too many participants invited.
- Participants not interested in being there.
- Participants unprepared and not able to contribute.
- Key players not present.
- Decision makers not present.
- Equipment not working.
Lack of control often results in:
- No leader/facilitator – meeting dominated by “an expert” or whoever speaks the most and/or loudest.
- Meeting lacks focus – irrelevant points are introduced.
- People not showing up, coming late or leaving early.
- Uninvited attendees.
- Inattentive participants.
- Hidden agendas.
- Lack of questions.
- Side conversations.
- Interruptions.
- Repetition.
- Lack of value-adding comments.
- No growth on issues.
While you’re at it, why not brush up on your facilitating skills…the Issue Resolution Model and the Decision Making Process would be a good start.