The Secret to Ending Non-Productive Meetings #104
“What’s your objective?” It’s amazing what asking this question can do to transform the quality of your time with others.
How can it make a difference? When you begin by stating your objective in working with others, it helps you take more effective action. Without it, you can vacillate in the infinite possibilities for “how” you’ll accomplish things. Knowing what your objective is helps you begin with the end in mind and work backward.
How will you know you succeeded? If you’re clear on the objective, it’s easy to state whether you’ve accomplished what was intended, failed or where the specific improvements can be made. Stating your desired outcome, objective or results up front is the only way to know you’ve done what you said or not.
Prior to meeting with anyone, ask them what the objective is, or stated another way, what do you want to accomplish with our time? Asking people to clarify up front will save you time and could help you prepare, serve them better, make your meeting more efficient or connect them to others more effectively.
If you haven’t met with someone before, this one question could be a game changer and will accomplish two things:
- It will allow you to prepare for the meeting and gauge how much time you need.
- It will let the other person know they need to prepare and take the meeting seriously.
If you’ve ever spent time in a meeting without a clear objective, you understand exactly why this is so important. Wasted time in non-productive meetings can derail your day more quickly than any other activity. Give it a try and let me know how it works, you’ve only got time to gain!
Categories: Sue's Daily Blog
