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Working from home means no more last-minute meetings in theconference room. If someone wants to meet with you or vice versa,you have to plan ahead. Use the time between setting the date andactually holding the meeting to prepare in advance and make themost out of each meeting.
- First, determine whether you even need to hold a meeting bydescribing the purpose of the meeting in one sentence. If youdon't have a specific reason for holding a meeting, don'twaste your time or your clients'. Instead, find another way todiscuss a small issue by using e-mail, the phone or fax. If thepurpose of your meeting is clear, go ahead and schedule themeeting.
- Ask your client to include only those people who can make acontribution to the meeting. Your key contact at a corporation maybe the only person who needs to attend, instead of others who willmerely monopolize the conversation or try to manipulate everyoneelse.
- Bring an agenda to ensure that all your concerns and points arecovered. Ask those who will attend the meeting to contribute to theagenda. Then distribute the agenda at least one week before themeeting. Your meeting will run more smoothly if everyone knows inadvance what will be discussed.
- Come to the meeting prepared. After you develop and give theagenda to your client, start a meeting file to store papersrelevant to the meeting. Remember to take the file with you to themeeting.
- Start the meeting on time and follow the agenda as much aspossible. Discuss only those items listed on the agenda to keep themeeting on track.
- Take notes on a legal pad, within your paper-based planner, PDAor laptop. While taking notes, highlight any action you need totake and make sure that action is transferred to your to-dolist.
- Meet electronically with out-of-town clients. Instead of flyingor driving out of town to meet with a client, schedule electronicmeetings in the comfort of your home office. Whether you hold ateleconference or Web meeting, give each person the opportunity toparticipate.
It's possible to make meetings more productive if you knowthe purpose of the meeting, plan ahead and make every minute of themeeting count. And of course the best way to save time on meetingsis to avoid them altogether.
Home office expert Lisa Kanarek is the founder of HomeOfficeLife.com and theauthor of Organizing Your Home Office For Success (BlakelyPress) and 101 Home Office Success Secrets (CareerPress).<
