personally<\/em> productive \u2013 either our gain or our contribution makes it worthwhile \u2013 not to determine whether or not the meeting has a right to exist.<\/p>\nFirst, Know the Purpose and Potential Impact<\/h4>\n
There is no getting around the fact that some meetings are more important than others; for every discussion to create the federal banking system, there are five discussions on whether or not user testing can start on the 17th<\/sup>. The first thing to know is what type<\/u> of meeting is being held:<\/p>\n\n- Is this simply to share information?<\/li>\n
- Is the idea for the group to synthesize<\/u> and give context<\/u> to information?<\/li>\n
- Is this meeting, in fact, to come to a decision?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If the meeting is to share information – nothing more – ask: What other ways exist to get or give that same information?<\/em><\/p>\nIf the meeting is consultative in nature – that is, the group is to “synthesize” or “give context” to information, ask: What role will I play in this?<\/em><\/p>\nIf a decision is<\/u> being made in that meeting, you<\/em> have another decision to make first<\/em>: Whether or not to attend that meeting. A key factor that should influence that <\/em>decision is the honest assessment of how important that outcome will be to you and your goals. In the big picture, how much does it really matter if you are part of the ![\"interior-design-828545_1280\"](\"https:\/\/b-spoke.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/interior-design-828545_1280.jpg?w=300\")
decision? How much will the solution affect your work? Your priorities? We all like<\/em> to have influence, but if the upshot has limited personal impact – or if others can achieve the same results – let them spend their time on it.<\/p>\nThis is not to minimize the decision being made; it could, in fact, be \u201cmission-critical\u201d to the organization. If whatever solution comes out of it, though, is equally acceptable to you, spend your time on your own work.<\/p>\n
A fourth type of meeting is a training or skill-building session; obviously, the decision to attend is between you and your manager.<\/p>\n
Know Your Role<\/h4>\n
When deciding whether to attend, consider your likely role. In any organization colleagues rely on each other, so the calculus should not be limited to \u201cWhat do I<\/u> get out of this meeting?\u201d but also \u201cWhat will others<\/em> get from my participation?\u201d Is the organizational benefit of your attendance greater than your personal cost? Questions to consider include:<\/p>\n\n- What knowledge or experience do I bring to the room?<\/li>\n
- What specific information is required, that I alone can provide?<\/li>\n
- What perspective will be missed if I do not personally contribute to the discussion?<\/li>\n
- Is attending the best way to deliver any of the above? What alternatives may exist?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Examine Alternate \u2018Delivery Methods\u2019<\/h4>\n
Decide if a personal appearance is the way to provide any of the above. For instance, if your role is to provide feedback from the latest survey, or present quarterly variance in COGS, does it make sense for you to put in the meeting- and travel-time? What documents or analysis can you provide in advance, to the chair or to the entire group? Can you be available by phone if needed to explain one picayune detail?<\/p>\n
Know Where Conflict Lurks<\/h4>\n
When making decisions, there are two separate and distinct processes to work through \u2013 agreeing on what needs to be accomplished, and which options best achieve that. (Frustration often sets in when those are worked in the wrong order).<\/p>\n
If the group is reviewing necessary results and objectives, consider:<\/p>\n
![\"meetings\"](\"https:\/\/b-spoke.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/meetings.png?w=200\")
<\/a> iPhones lead them from conference room to conference room. Subsequently, they had no idea what was on their calendars, let alone what was important and what should be skipped.<\/p>\n![\"elite-daily-pokemon-go-game2\"](\"https:\/\/b-spoke.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/elite-daily-pokemon-go-game2.png?w=300\")
identified in advance and avoided.<\/p>\n![\"index\"](\"https:\/\/b-spoke.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/index1.jpg\")
together?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n