Do you ever wonder why you bother having business meetings? Or, perhaps you know they’re necessary but feel frustrated by the lack of direction and progress in most of your gatherings with colleagues.

Unfortunately, far too many people are familiar with spending hours talking with co-workers, only to find nothing has been decided by the end of the session. Fortunately, this is not an inevitable outcome, and you can follow some simple hints and tips to make inefficient meetings a thing of the past. 

Read on to learn how to make your business meetings more productive. 

1. Use Conference Calls

If you have employees based in locations all over the world, or working from home, it may be impossible to get everyone into the same meeting room. But, when you make an instant conference call, you can bring staff together, allowing them to collaborate in a meaningful way. 

This can also be an excellent method for letting workers talk to colleagues they might usually only communicate with through email. 

2. Limit Employee Numbers

Ensure you only include workers who absolutely need to be at the meeting. This can cut down on unnecessary interruptions, helping keep the meeting short and to the point.

3. Set an Agenda

Efficient businesses make a plan and then put it into operation, and you should treat your meetings in the same way. Create an agenda listing the points you’ll be covering, and send it to all the participants. They can then prepare their questions and answers in advance. 

4. Steer the Meeting

When managing a business, it’s important to keep people focused. During your meeting, if you notice colleagues wandering away from the main topics, gently interrupt and steer the meeting back to the most important points. 

5. Encourage Participation 

Some colleagues may be reluctant to speak in front of their peers. However, you should make your meeting space a welcoming environment where everyone is encouraged to participate. This can be an excellent way to hear innovative ideas from quieter employees. 

6. Take Breaks

If a meeting is lasting longer than expected, remember to give your staff some rest breaks. Although they’ll probably be staying hydrated by drinking water during the meeting, a timeout can allow them to stretch their legs and get some fresh air. They can then return to the meeting feeling refreshed and reenergized. 

7. Summarise Key Points

It’s good practice to review the key points from a meeting to ensure everyone is on the same page. This technique can keep your business management team pulling in the same direction, rather than employees misinterpreting something a colleague said in a meeting. 

8. Only Have Meetings When Necessary

You can increase your business efficiency by only having meetings when necessary. While it can be convenient to schedule weekly gatherings, you may find employees have nothing to add from the previous week. You can ask your staff if they need to have meetings on specific days, or if it would be better to schedule gatherings on an ad-hoc basis. 

Make Your Business Meetings More Efficient

Your business meetings can be much more productive when you know how to run them in the most efficient manner. It’s vital to set a clear agenda, and to only invite employees who need to be in attendance. You may also want to take regular breaks, and ensure that everyone with something to contribute gets a chance to speak. 

Your company meetings could soon be more constructive than ever!

If you’ve found this article helpful, be sure to browse more great posts in our Business section before you go.