Running an Effective Meeting

Abstract

Meetings often seem to be a waste of time, but often they can be the best way to disseminate or collect information, make a decision, or solve a problem. A meeting should be held only if there is a good reason for it, and identifying that reason also serves to define the agenda for the meeting. Circulating a written agenda in advance is probably the most important element of a successful meeting. Meeting organizers should consider the purpose of the meeting when determining the number of participants and the time limit for the meeting. The leader must maintain a balance between control and openness; participants also have an important role in contributing to the success of a meeting.

Keywords: meetings, communication

JEL Classification: K00, M00