The Mannerly Meeting

Meetings can provide an opportunity to shine in front of your superiors and your peers, but there has to be a strategic approach in the way you conduct them. One of the most important rules we try to live by at firstPRO is to only call meetings when they are necessary. Our philosophy has always been that whoever is calling the meeting needs something or isn’t happy. That includes your clients, so keep that in mind when they want to meet with you.

When you are the one attending the meeting, there are some important things to remember:
• Always arrive on time, but no more than five minutes before the meeting starts.
• Be well-dressed, and turn your cell phone off.
• Don’t bring food or drink into the meeting unless you know it is appropriate.
• Ask the facilitator where to sit, or be very conscious of any unspoken pecking order or seating arrangements.
• When speaking, address the facilitator.
• Look attentive and participate, and avoid holding your head like you are trying to stay awake.
• Do not look at your Blackberry under the table or read through papers unless they pertain directly to the discussion at hand.
• Do not exit early unless pre-arranged with the facilitator.

A meeting should always have an ultimate goal, whether it is walking away with some ideas to put in place, solving a problem, getting everyone on the same page or communicating sensitive or timely information. If you cannot come up with a goal, the odds are you don’t need the meeting. Otherwise, keep them efficient, brief, and of course, mannerly.