How to run brilliant Virtual Meetings

Imagine being invited to this virtual meeting…

Meeting

1. Discuss X
2. Review Y
3. Any other business
   

Duration: one hour

I HATE agendas like this. I know the meeting will be too long and boring.

But make these simple changes, and it’ll be better:

• CLEAR OUTCOMES – State upfront the outcomes you want to achieve. These will be one/both of the 2As – Action or Agreement. Include these outcomes in (1) the title and (2) each agenda item. Example: replace words like “discuss” (input) with “agree whether to do X or not” (outcome)
• Always end with actions – or there won’t be any
• Avoid Diary Tennis later by agreeing next meeting’s date during this one
• Stop scheduling one-hour, back-to-back meetings – that’s just nuts

Making these changes gives us this agenda:

Meeting to agree next actions with X and Y

1. Agree whether to do X or not
2. Agree our #1 priority for Y
3. Actions arising
4. Date of next meeting
   

Max duration = 20 minutes

Compare this to the one above. It’s much better.

It’s a meeting I’d like to go to – unlike the first one!

Action Point

Change your next agenda to being outcome-focused. You’ll achieve a lot more outcomes!

And also visit www.andyboundsonline.com for more small tweaks that will make a massive difference to all your comms.