Effective Meetings

If you've ever been in a meeting wondering why you're talking the same thing with no resolution, being in a meeting to schedule another meeting, I've been there. What is worse is when people do not take accountability to what was agreed on. Best practice is to take notes!  Before that, prepare an agenda so people do not take over the meeting to talk about their vacation plans.

There are many templates out here for agenda and notes. Here are the essential points:

• Agenda: 
• Date & Time
• Attendees
• Objective of the meeting
• Topics with time expectations

• Notes
• Date & Time
• Attendance
• Talking points by person making the statements
• Decisions
• Action items with target completion date and assignee (not dept.)

Tips in informal meetings

• I tend to use the same structure as the agenda and check off attendees off the invitees list.
• Type points of reference to actions in blue
• Use red font for actions

In formal meetings where executives and management are involved, I would have sections with # of each items.

For projects, I have a lot that tracks communication, decisions, assumptions & constraints, action items, issues, risks, deliverable acceptance, change log, and budget.