Better Meetings for Everyone

Volume 15, Issue 2
Publisher: Jana M. Kemp

1. Today’s Agenda: Cancel the Meeting
2. Seen Elsewhere
3. Tools & Tips
4. Meetings@Work

Cancel the Meeting
By Jana M. Kemp

If you’ve ever sat through an action-less meeting, it is time consider when to cancel the meeting. Follow these guides and everyone’s time will be better spent.

• Can all the decision makers attend the meeting? If not, can the decision be made with those present? If not, cancel the meeting.
• Is there anything pressing on the agenda? If not, cancel the meeting
• Will participants learn something new at this meeting? If not, cancel the meeting.
• Will participants be able to get work done in new or better ways as a result of this meeting? If not, cancel the meeting.
• For an impromptu “come to the conference room now,” ask what the meeting is about. If the meeting caller can’t tell you clearly, consider opting out of the meeting.
• Has the meeting started and now stalled? If no decisions can be reached, end the meeting.

Related to not being a waffler “The mantra of Chrysler LLC CEO Bob Nardelli is: ‘A quick yes, a quick no, but never a slow maybe.” – Automobile News, March 10, 2008.

What is your title? Here are some of the newest titles: Chief Environmental Officer; Chief Emotional Officer; Chief Learning Officer. Consider how the “titles” in your meetings affect the discussions and decisions being made in the meeting.

Is this happening in your company?
“People who aren’t allowed to buy a laptop without approval can end up spending $200,000 for a meeting, says Michael Boult, the former chief executive and current board member of StarCite, Inc., one of the largest meetings management companies.”
– The Wall Street Journal page R5 Monday, March 31, 2008.

Prepared Not Paranoid – NOW AVAILABLE !

by Jana Kemp and Doug Graves. NOW AVAILABLE
Ready to learn how to be prepared for great living every day rather than being paranoid? This book combines Jana Kemp’s 2002 police academy experience with veteran officer and police trainer Doug Graves’ and produces a readable book for keeping yourself and loved ones safe every day. www.amazon.com

Boise Book Signing: June 18, 2008 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Borders at the Boise Town Square Mall

Moving Out of the Box

Tools for Team Decision Making by Jana Kemp
Commanding Collaborators in Chief – are in demand! They master both coming to consensus and command-and-control decision making approaches because these decision tools are equal. Learn why in this new book (Praeger/Greenwood) that also introduces a tool for reaching consensus when a team or group is so stuck that chaos or indecision are the most likely results. To Buy, visit: www.greenwood.com or www.Amazon.com

Building Community in Buildings



By Jana M. Kemp and Ken Baker
If your organization is building or remodeling office space, this book provides the HRD2 Model for creating productive and creative workspaces that encourage employees to shine. Released in late 2006, this book includes models, surveys, good-example photos of buildings and resources to help human resource and training professionals positively impact the architecting and design of built spaces. To Buy – visit: www.greenwood.com or www.Amazon.com

 
Looking for a meeting facilitator, a conference speaker or a workshop presenter on the subjects of meetings, time management or decision-making? Then, visit www.JanaKemp.com for information on these services and conference presentations.

SPEAKERS LISTS
www.trainersandspeakers.comprovides a roster of Pacific Northwest experts who can deliver keynotes, workshops and one-on-one coaching.

www.MVPSeminars.com provides a roster of speakers trainers for your organization and conferences. Jana Kemp and others are listed here as potential helps to your audiences.