A Meeting A Day Wastes Your Life Away

Written by Martin Avis


Continued from page 1

The length of a meeting rises withrepparttar square ofrepparttar 106802 number of people present.

>> Eileen Shanahan _______________________________________________________

3. Put one person in charge. It doesn't have to berepparttar 106803 most senior person, but whoever is delegatedrepparttar 106804 role of 'chair' should have sufficient force of character to keep everyone under control. The important rule is that everyone must know who isrepparttar 106805 leader and must not try to 'take over.'

4. The meeting leader should circulate a detailed and unambiguous agenda to allrepparttar 106806 delegates in good time. If research needs to be done or any items need to be brought torepparttar 106807 meeting, this should be clearly set out onrepparttar 106808 agenda along withrepparttar 106809 name ofrepparttar 106810 responsible party.

5. Ifrepparttar 106811 agenda can't be put on one side of a sheet of paper, it is too long. Simplify it, or as a last resort, schedule two meetings.

6. The leader should openrepparttar 106812 meeting with a clear announcement of whatrepparttar 106813 problems are.

7. It is very easy to get sidetracked. I have lost count ofrepparttar 106814 number of meeting I have attended where anything butrepparttar 106815 problem in hand has been discussed. The worst offenders are clients who are 'in town' and have nowhere else to go oncerepparttar 106816 meeting is over. They try to stretch things out to fill their time. Do not let them get away with it. The meeting leader must be strong enough to keeprepparttar 106817 group 'on message' and when everything has been discussed that needs to be, wind up clearly and cleanly.

8. Don't rush. Give each pointrepparttar 106818 time it deserves, but be aware thatrepparttar 106819 full agenda has to be covered and endless discussion on a relatively minor point is simply another waste of everyone's time.

9. If allrepparttar 106820 delegates work inrepparttar 106821 same building, call each one in torepparttar 106822 meeting only when they are needed. There is nothing worse than sitting through two hours of irrelevancies before getting to 'your bit.' But this happens allrepparttar 106823 time. Allow and encourage people to come in and out as required.

10. Firmly, but politely ask all attendees to turn off their cell phones.

11. Give one personrepparttar 106824 job of taking clear minutes. Make sure that a summary ofrepparttar 106825 meeting's decisions and actions is run through and agreed by everybody before breaking up. Atrepparttar 106826 same time, make sure that a clear action plan for each attendee is minuted. Distributerepparttar 106827 minutes as quickly as possible - certainly within 24 hours.

12. Schedule meetings before lunch or late afternoon. It is far more likely that they will finish on time. Always make a point of starting on time - even if allrepparttar 106828 attendees have not arrived (unless there is a very good reason). If you are known to run a tight, effective meeting your colleagues will respect you for it and usually behave accordingly.

Follow these pointers and your meetings will work harder and more efficiently than ever before. And who knows, you might find you didn't really need a meeting after all.



Martin Avis is a management and training consultant. To get your unfair advantage (and 6 free gifts) in Internet marketing, business and personal success, subscribe free to his weekly newsletter, BizE-zine. mailto:subscribe5@BizE-zine.com


Do You Shout - Even When You Are Silent?

Written by Martin Avis


Continued from page 1

Even ifrepparttar dress code is casual, there is a world of difference between dirty jeans and a crumpled T-shirt, and freshly laundered casual trousers and a polo shirt. Remember - dress to respect yourself and you automatically respect your audience.

4. Hands. Your hands are like semaphore flags. They send a message whatever position they are in.

Take a look at prominent politicians - they almost all use their hands to reinforce their words. Whether it is a chopping motion, like John F. Kennedy, or an open handed gesture likerepparttar 106801 English Prime Minister Blair, they are all intended to send visual signals directly torepparttar 106802 right-brain ofrepparttar 106803 listener to augmentrepparttar 106804 words which normally addressrepparttar 106805 left-brain.

One ofrepparttar 106806 things I am asked most often when teaching presentation skills is 'what do I do with my hands?'

The easy answer 'just be natural' is not only unhelpful, but also completely wrong. You have to think of your hands and arms as every bit as important asrepparttar 106807 charts and slides you are presenting.

There are five places your hands can comfortably be:

* In your pockets. Don't do it! It might feel natural, butrepparttar 106808 signal this gives is anything but. You will look uncomfortable, casual and unsure of yourself.

* Clasped behind your back. This looks aloof and superior, and should be avoided.

* Relaxed, by your side. This feels very unnatural to most people, but actually looks good torepparttar 106809 audience. It makes you seem to lack tension.

* On your hips. This is a very positive position. It sends out a message that you are comfortable and self- assured. Don't overdo it. This stance is best used at moments when you stop speaking and are allowingrepparttar 106810 audience a moment to absorb your message.

* Gesticulating. Learnrepparttar 106811 messages that your hands convey and use them to emphasize your points: an open hand denotes honesty; a closed fist, aggression or evasion; a pointing finger, hostility. Also be aware of cultural differences. The American thumb and forefinger gesture meaning 'okay' may be insulting in Denmark.

5. Readrepparttar 106812 room. You are notrepparttar 106813 only one who is communicating non-verbally. Learn to recognizerepparttar 106814 unconscious signals that your audience is feeding back to you.

* A tilted head and direct eye contact indicates attentive approval.

* Raised eyebrows and forward-leaning posture denotes attentive alertness.

* Indirect gaze, accompanied by pen or finger biting show uncertainty.

* Folded arms can indicate hostility.

* A hand torepparttar 106815 chin show that you are being summed up.

Finally, learn constantly. Whenever you watch a presenter, try to work out why they are good or bad. Every time you make a presentation, try to detach yourself and see how you can be even better next time.

And remember, applause doesn't always mean you are great -repparttar 106816 audience might be being polite, and gentle snoring fromrepparttar 106817 back ofrepparttar 106818 room doesn't always show that you need to work on your technique -repparttar 106819 CEO probably just had too good a lunch!



Martin Avis publishes a free weekly newsletter: BizE-Zine - your unfair advantage in Internet marketing, business and personal success. To subscribe, and get 4 great free gifts, please visit http://www.BizE-zine.com ___________________________


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