Preparation is the Cheapest Investment
The other open secret for an effective meeting is preparation.
It is startling how much efforts managers invest in cutting costs and rationalize processes, and at the same time, they call for meetings with highly paid resources, where, at most, there is an agenda prepared.
The following 7 questions shall help you to prepare your meeting, in order to make the best use of time and knowledge available at the day of the meeting:
There is nothing so likely to produce peace as to be well prepared to meet the enemy.
George Washington
Preparation is the cheapest Investment
- What is the distinctive topic?
- What is the context/background?
- What should have been achieved at the end of the meeting?
- Who shall/shall not participate?
- How much time do you realistically have available?
- What should the participants think through in detail?
- Check process and logistics?
In order to achieve your aim you have to do things differently.