Set an agenda — and stick to it.
“Set it in advance,” Deosingh says, and tell participants what that agenda includes at the beginning of the meeting, so they know what to expect. Throughout the meeting, keep your agenda and goals in mind, helping the group to stay on track.
Set a beginning and end time.
“Start on time, finish on time, and allow yourself [time] for questions,” Deosingh says. Following this one guideline will help you gain favor with your colleagues because it shows you respect their time.
Ending on time is particularly important because participants start to turn their attention elsewhere at the end of the time slot set aside for that meeting, says Peter Handal, CEO and Chairman of Dale Carnegie Training, which helps workers improve their interpersonal skills. “Their mind isn’t on the meeting at the end, so it’s not productive,” he says.
Make sure an in-person meeting is the best way to deliver the information.