E-Tip #385: 6 Tips for More Productive and Successful Business Meetings

Business meetings can be a great way to get your team on board with their goals and to hear about new ideas; however, these meetings can waste everyone's time if they are not properly managed. To help you have more successful and productive business meetings, we have listed below 6 tips for getting the most out of your meetings. They are:

Tip #1: Plan Ahead And Be Prepared - Before you head out to your next meeting, prepare the questions or issues that you would like to have addressed, and think about what you would like to accomplish during the meeting. Also, it is helpful if you send a quick email asking everyone involved to go through the same process.

Tip #2: Open Your Mind To Someone Else's Ideas - Go into a meeting with the attitude that you will learn something new. Fully listen to others before speaking. Instead of interrupting, write your thoughts down and address them at an appropriate time. Be careful not to criticize other people for their thoughts and ideas.

Tip #3: Take Good Notes - Taking good notes will help you organize what you are learning as well as make a permanent record of what you have learned for future reference. They are helpful to use for summarizing at the end of the meeting, too (see tip #6 below).

Tip #4: Ask Questions To Clarify Action Items - Do not hesitate to ask questions to clarify what has been said or agreed upon. Be sure to keep your questions clear and concise, so everyone can be on board with both the question and answer(s).

Tip #5: Offer Ideas and Solutions - Offering ideas and possible solutions will make you feel more involved in the meeting - it is also a great way to help prevent your mind from wondering. If you have an idea that you feel is important, share it! Sharing often sparks new ideas and adds energy to a meeting.

Tip #6: Summarize Action Items - When the meeting is finished, review your notes openly as a way to not only reinforce what was discussed in the meeting, but to also assign action items and due dates to the project. If your notes are all over the place, rewrite and organize them. This is a great way to not forget important details.

Executive Summary: Successful meetings are those which are properly managed. Make sure you plan before the meeting starts. Once the meeting has started, be sure to stay open-minded, and make sure you understand what is being said. Also, be an active participant by offering your own suggestions and ideas. Finally, take good notes, because they can serve as reference during and after the meeting, and they will help you wrap up everything that was addressed. Use these tips to make the most out of your meetings, as successful meetings lead to successful organizations.

E-Tip #384: Tips on Surviving The Workplace

Are you really ready to handle the unexpected during the workday? Many people say yes, but most are not truly ready. Surviving the workday requires resilience. You need to be physically, mentally and emotionally strong to handle the unexpected.

We all know that our resilience-factor goes down when we are over-worked and over-stressed. But how do you prepare yourself for the unexpected and improve your resilience? To survive, we all need to rejuvenate, revitalize and recharge ourselves in order to reach our full potential.

6 Tips To Help You Achieve And Maintain Resilience:

Tip #1: Take Breaks During The Workday - Try to take breaks as often as possible, even if it is just for five minutes. Listen to some music you enjoy or get up from your desk and stretch a little. Step outside for some fresh air and get the blood flowing through your legs. Take a brisk walk with an iPod.

Tip #2: Schedule A Vacation - Soon - Taking a vacation may seem hard to do, but if you plan one well in advance, you are more likely to take it. Do not use the excuse that you are just "too busy" to get away.

Tip #3: Identify People That Like To Sabotage Others - Avoid people that like to sabotage others. Saboteurs can be co-workers, friends or family members who will unknowingly drain you with their negativity. Also, try to avoid people who are too demanding of your time and energy.

Tip #4: Focus On A Positive Goal - The work you dislike is the work you are more likely to neglect. Focus on the positives for completing the work and the rewards it may bring.

Tip #5: Do Not Be Afraid To Say "No" To Someone - If you cannot possibly take on any more work, then politely say "no" to the project. Remember, if you say "yes" to everything, you are not going to have the time or the energy to do your best, and you run the risk of burnout.

Tip #6: Eat Smart And Exercise Often - Much easier said than done! The time when we are the most stressed is precisely when we need proper nutrition, so think ahead, plan your meals and schedule a time to exercise. Avoid stocking your desk drawer with junk food, and avoid putting off exercise until tomorrow.

Executive Summary: All these tips are simple to follow. Your physical, mental and emotional health are directly related to how well you handle stressful situation. Focusing on improving and maintaining these aspects of your health, will lower your stress and enable you to overcome whatever life throws at you when you least expect it.

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