More Tips to Make Your Next Meeting More Productive

 By R.D. Silva

Tips For More Effective Meeting Presentations

Looking at the structured (not brainstorming) meetings, there are several additional things (see last month’s article) you can do to make the get-together more productive. You should:

1. Use visual aids wherever possible as we are not all audibly oriented;

2. Show slides and charts that use large type and have the minimum number of words necessary to make your point (slides and charts are summaries of what you are saying and are not speeches in their entirety);

3. Provide handouts that people can refer to during the course of your presentation, especially if you keep referring to some component on a regular basis (avoid handing out your total presentation until after the meeting is over so that participants will not read ahead and miss your eloquent delivery);

4. Try to utilize the most effective presentation methodology: previewing what you’re going to say, delivering your presentation, and summarizing your presentation;

5. Encourage and allow questions of clarification so that you do not lose your audience due to a misunderstanding or lack of understanding of some key element presented;

6. Not allow the questions, however, to sidetracked the discussion or diverge from the agenda; and

7. Finally, request feedback from the group about your presentation both orally and in writing.

While these steps will also not necessarily produce the ultimate or perfect outcome, they should make the time spent in the meeting more meaningful to the participants.

Effective Meeting Skills

 

R. David Siva

Business Editor

25+ years experience
in the world of business/marketing

Any topics that you wish to be discussed in this column?
silva@4fashionadvice.com