How to Make Your Meetings Useful and Productive

What makes the "dreaded meeting" so dreadful? In many cases, it's because very few people actually make a contribution, according to a recent survey from Klaxoon. The resulting "America in Meetings" report indicates that many survey respondents are participating in more meetings than they did a year ago, and these get-togethers keep lasting longer. In addition, significant numbers of the professionals surveyed think that meetings—whether in person, virtual or via conference calls—are a waste of their time. That's often because the goals are unclear and/or participation is lacking from all attendees. In fact, quite a few survey respondents admitted that they zone out when not speaking during these sessions. To avoid this, meeting organizers should develop a concrete, clear agenda and stick to it, while fostering a more inclusive environment in which everyone contributes. "People learn best when they are really collaborating and interacting," said Matthieu Beucher, CEO of Klaxoon. "When they aren't, their minds wander and meetings fail." More than 2,000 U.S. professionals took part in the research.