Business Meeting Etiquette

by: Jeff Schuman
What makes up proper business meeting etiquette? How do you havea meeting everyone can leave feeling good about? Meetings havebecome an inevitable part of doing business for almost everybusiness owner. There are meetings with clients, meetings withemployees and meetings with peers or associates. Almost everyone has suffered through meetings that take up yourvaluable time and accomplish very little. In fact, you may find that you yourself have now become numb tothat fact that your meetings aren’t as good as they could be.And everywhere you look, it seems as if somebody has anotheridea about how to fix your meetings, and make them more focused,more productive, and – dare I say it? More fun! So what can you do about it? Simple business meeting etiquettecan help you put on a quality meeting. Here are a few tips andideas for meeting planning –1. Schedule your meetings at the best times - 2. Make sure your meetings all start on time - (and wheneverpossible, avoid scheduling meetings when someone is up against adeadline, or on a tight schedule). 3. Maintain a consistent focus on what topics will be covered –(use an agenda). 4. Ensure there is a good level of rapport in the group –(people can talk to each other and exchange ideas about what isbeing discussed). 5. Arrive at a decision - (find new ways to avoid covering thesame ground, and ask for input to help create a plan of action.) 6. Use parliamentary procedures - (so that the correct methodsfor amending or making a motion, following the agenda and takingturns before speaking are being followed). 7. Choose the best location and environment for your meetings -(for example, trying to fit 15 people into a closet-sized roomthat doesn’t have windows or a proper ventilation system is poorplanning on your part.) 8. Do not schedule meetings to go over routine topics - (you cansend a memo or email for this.) 9. Talk to your group and make your meetings interactive - 10. Alwaysr ask for feedback from participants and allow them topresent ideas or get involved. These ten simple business meeting etiquette tips thatguarantee a better meeting for everyone. Follow these and youwill see results on what you covered as well as a betterattendance at future meetings.