70th count down PDC img: 12 meeting rules
  1. Know why you’re there: Identify what points are most relevant to you, plan what you want to say and make sure you say them! If you’re not confident in meetings, roleplay with a colleague before. This will give you a chance to practise.
  2. Be clear about your outcomes:  Make them SMART. Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound goals are going to get done. 
  3. Have a clear agenda: Read it before the meeting, work out what you need to communicate and make notes. During the meeting, take more notes on what is said. Most importantly, stick to the agenda!
  4. Be an active listener: Engage with other people’s contribution. Ask questions, echo their ideas, respond positively. Engaged participants make a meeting quicker and more effective!
  5. Have positive and welcoming body language: Sit with your hands above the table and feet flat on the floor. Sitting straight will make it easier to focus and make you look more professional.
  6. Ensure equal participation: When you’re chairing a meeting, it’s easy to let some people dominate and others be passive. Making sure everyone speaks will lead to a better outcome!
  7. Check everybody knows what’s been decided and what they need to do: Don’t fall into the trap of not reviewing and summarising what’s been discussed! Make sure everyone is clear on the action points and deadlines.
  8. Keep it short: The most effective meetings are short meetings. After 60 minutes, everyone’s concentration is on the wane and people lose focus. Experiment with standing up for meetings or having walking meetings!
  9. Vary where you meet: Regular meetings or meetings at the end of the week can feel stale and low energy. Move them to a new location to encourage new perspectives. Try a different room on a different floor, or move to a café!
  10. Invite fewer people: Look at the list of attendees. Do they all really need to be there? Can teams be represented by one person? Who will be making the decisions? Smaller groups make meetings more quickly than larger groups!
  11. Be on time: It sounds obvious, but too many of us wait until the last minute to leave for a meeting. Part of being prepared is allowing sufficient time to get there without rushing. Not only will you feel more ready, you’ll look more professional!
  12. Follow up: This is a natural part of managing communication. Keep up-to-date with how action points are progressing. Ask for feedback. Be open to suggestions. Keeping people engaged will keep them motivated!