Cambridge Business Association
Meeting Excellence
Book

Meeting Excellence

33 Tools to Lead Meetings That Get Results

Glenn Parker and Robert Hoffman
Jossey-Bass, 2006
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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Applicable

Recommendation

Anyone who ever spent 45 minutes in a meeting that digressed from budget concerns to what snacks to stock in the lunchroom will appreciate this book. Are meetings a necessary evil? Authors Glenn Parker and Robert Hoffman believe you can streamline your meeting procedures to eliminate wasted time and get results. During their research to help Novartis Pharmaceuticals improve the productivity of its meetings, they developed handy tools for improving meeting efficiency that you can apply to any type of session. Don’t try to enumerate the "33 tools" promised in the subhead: the number refers to the 33 chapters, and each one offers useful advice. This guidebook provides easy-to-follow lists, templates, samples and techniques. getAbstract recommends it as a practical reference for anyone who ever wasted an afternoon at a badly managed meeting. If you’re not the one running your next meeting, share your copy with that committee chair. Everyone will be grateful.

Summary

The Meeting Mess

A badly planned and executed meeting inhibits productivity, and frustrates both managers and employees. Many companies are reviewing their procedures to establish a positive and fruitful approach to meetings within their organizations.

Novartis Pharmaceuticals conducted extensive research into its procedures for preparing, facilitating, following up and evaluating meetings. Executives, mid-level managers, team leaders and facilitators in any type of business can apply the resulting tools for "meeting excellence."

Preparing for a Meeting

First decide if the meeting is necessary. Determine if there is a clear purpose for the meeting and if there is a better alternative. If the answers to these questions are no, don’t have the meeting. Your preparation for a meeting goes beyond setting an agenda, booking a conference room and ordering lunch. Once you decide the meeting is essential, carry out these steps:

  • Set goals and know what you want to achieve in the meeting. Follow the motto, "No purpose equals no meeting."
  • Re-examine the invitation roster and make sure those you want to attend are on it. Do not include...

About the Authors

Glenn Parker is author of Cross-Functional Teams and Team Players and Teamwork. He is a consultant and speaker who conducts training workshops. Robert Hoffman is the executive director of organizational development for Novartis Oncology.

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