Here are the winning entries from a bad meeting contest and comments on what to do so that you can avoid these problems.
Monsters in Meetings – Part 1, How to Manage Unproductive Behavior
Everyone complains about bad meetings and how they waste everyone’s time. Here are five general strategies to make sure that you hold an effective meeting, even when unproductive behavior threatens to ruin it. (This is the first of a seven part article on Managing Monsters in Meetings.)
Monsters in Meetings – Part 2, Multiple Conversations
A simple side conversation can eat holes in a meeting. Here’s how to stop them and bring your meeting back on track. (This is the second of a seven part article on Managing Monsters in Meetings.)
Monsters in Meetings – Part 3, Drifting From the Topic
You’ve done everything necessary to hold an effective meeting. But someone says something that seems completely unrelated to the goal for the meeting. Here’s how to respond. (This is the third of a seven part article on Managing Monsters in Meetings.)
Monsters in Meetings – Part 4, Quiet Participants
Quiet participants often have excellent ideas that can contribute to an effective meeting. Here’s how to help them open up. (This is the fourth of a seven part article on Managing Monsters in Meetings.)
Monsters in Meetings – Part 5, Dominant Participants
The strongest contributors in your meetings can also prevent others from participating. Here’s how to moderate their contributions. (This is the fifth of a seven part article on Managing Monsters in Meetings.)
Five Ways to Use a Meeting
Meetings also provide opportunities to learn a lot about the people who attend them. Here’s what to look for.
Monsters in Meetings – Part 6, Deadlocked Discussions
You thought you had an effective meeting until one participant disagreed with everyone else. Now the meeting is deadlocked. Here’s what to do. (This is the sixth of a seven part article on Managing Monsters in Meetings.)
Help! My Boss Conducts Bad Meetings
Someone wrote, asking this question. Here are thirteen ideas.
Monsters in Meetings – Part 7, Personal Attacks
An effective meeting depends upon the participants treating each other with respect. Here’s how to respond if someone insults another participant. (This is the seventh of a seven part article on Managing Monsters in Meetings.)
Are Your Meetings Like This
Are your meetings as bad as the ones that ducks hold in the park? Find out here.
Check Your Communication Skills
How effectively do you communicate? Use this check list to rate your communication skills.