The rest of that quote from John Kenneth Galbraith is "when you don't want to do anything."
Too many companies become paralyzed by the amount of meetings that are on a schedule and by the amount of people that are at each of them.
So, how can you run a meeting more effectively:
1. Invite only those necessary to the meeting. Too many meetings include people that are not involved in the decision making process that will go on at the meeting. Let the people execute.
2. Define the agenda. Although most meeting invitations are sent with a subject line, very few come with an agenda. So, you may have a general idea of the topic of the meeting, but you cannot prepare adequately because you have not received any action items to prepare.
3. Send materials out before. The people want to be prepared for the discussion and decision-making process. Let them review the meeting materials, so the meeting can be as productive as possible.
4. Start on time. This has become a problem in corporations. People live by their schedule, so be cognizant of the clock. This gives you the maximum amount of time and you do not lose people that may be needed at the critical closing moments of a meeting, due to them having to leave.
5. Make sure everyone has a chance to voice their opinion. I have been in many meetings where the "squeakiest wheel" convinces others of the "correct" choice by screaming over the others at the meeting. By ensuring everyone has a time to speak their mind (you may want to set a time limit).
6. Leave the PC, BlackBerry, iPhone, insert your own device here - back in your office. Only the person that has to show a presentation or something critical to the meeting should have their device. The other devices become a distraction to both the user and those around them. By leaving the devices out of the room, the attendees will remian focused on the task at hand.
Send me your ideas for making meetings more productive.
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