Learn how to run an effective meeting that gets results! Productive meeting tips from author.

Summary

In this video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of starting every meeting with a clear mission and desired outcome to ensure productivity. Traditional meeting tips often fall short because they don’t address the root cause: lack of focus. By stating the mission and outcome at the start, attendees walk in with a clear understanding of what the meeting aims to achieve. This leads to more results-driven meetings and avoids the trap of endless discussions. Whether problem-solving, idea generation, or sharing information, clear objectives lead to effective outcomes and more engaged participants.

Takeaways

• 😀 Most meetings fail because they lack focus and results.
• 😀 To make meetings effective, you need a clear mission and outcome statement.
• 😀 The mission defines the goal of the meeting, while the outcome defines what should be achieved by the end.
• 😀 These statements should be shared at the beginning of the meeting, including in the invitation and first words out of your mouth.
• 😀 Without a mission and outcome, meetings tend to drag on without accomplishing anything.
• 😀 A mission might be to review proposals, while the outcome would be selecting the top two options.
• 😀 A mission could be brainstorming ideas, with the outcome being the identification of key traits or solutions.
• 😀 Even informational meetings should have a mission and outcome, such as updating employees on retirement options and confirming their understanding.
• 😀 Meetings with clear goals lead to more satisfying outcomes, where participants leave with a sense of accomplishment.
• 😀 Defining a mission and outcome for every meeting helps avoid the trap of endless, ineffective meetings.
• 😀 If you want to get more out of your meetings, visit boringmeetingssuck.com or grab the book for more insights.

Q & A

What is the key takeaway from the video regarding meetings?

The key takeaway is that meetings should start with a clear mission and outcome statement. This helps to focus the discussion, drive results, and avoid wasting time on irrelevant topics.

Why do most meetings fail to achieve focus and results?

Most meetings fail to achieve focus and results because they lack clear direction, often leaving participants distracted and disengaged. This is especially true in environments where attention spans are short.

What is the difference between a 'mission' and an 'outcome' in the context of meetings?

The 'mission' refers to the purpose of the meeting, answering why the meeting is happening, while the 'outcome' defines what will be achieved by the end of the meeting, specifying the tangible results.

Why is it important to state the mission and outcome at the start of a meeting?

Stating the mission and outcome at the start ensures that all attendees understand the goal of the meeting, helping to align everyone’s efforts and expectations towards a clear result.

Can you provide an example of a 'mission' and 'outcome' for a problem-solving meeting?

For a problem-solving meeting, an example could be: Mission - 'Review proposals from voice-over IP providers'; Outcome - 'Walk out the door with the top two proposals selected and scheduled for personal presentations.'

What is the impact of having a mission and outcome statement in a meeting?

Having a mission and outcome statement ensures that the meeting stays focused, avoids unnecessary discussions, and enables participants to walk away with a sense of accomplishment because they have achieved the intended results.

What are some common mistakes in meetings that could be avoided by using mission and outcome statements?

Common mistakes include aimless discussions, lack of direction, unclear action items, and meetings that go over time without achieving anything substantial. Using mission and outcome statements helps avoid these issues by setting clear goals from the outset.

How can a mission and outcome statement reduce the number of unnecessary meetings?

By clearly defining the purpose and result of the meeting, mission and outcome statements can prevent the need for follow-up meetings by ensuring that everything is addressed in one session, reducing the cycle of endless discussions.

How does defining the mission and outcome impact meeting productivity?

Defining the mission and outcome at the start of the meeting leads to higher productivity because it keeps the discussion focused on what needs to be achieved, minimizes distractions, and ensures that all participants are working toward a common goal.

What is the suggested reaction from participants when a meeting has clear mission and outcome statements?

Participants are more likely to leave the meeting feeling satisfied and motivated, having contributed to a concrete outcome, as opposed to the typical feeling of regret about wasted time when meetings lack clear focus.