Search icon CANCEL
Subscription
0
Cart icon
Your Cart (0 item)
Close icon
You have no products in your basket yet
Save more on your purchases! discount-offer-chevron-icon
Savings automatically calculated. No voucher code required.
Arrow left icon
Explore Products
Best Sellers
New Releases
Books
Videos
Audiobooks
Learning Hub
Free Learning
Arrow right icon
Essential Meeting Blueprints for Managers
Essential Meeting Blueprints for Managers

Essential Meeting Blueprints for Managers: Wasted meetings mean wasted time and potential. Ensure your meetings are as productive as possible with strategic planning best practices and more.

eBook
€8.99 €19.99
Paperback
€24.99
Subscription
Free Trial
Renews at €18.99p/m

What do you get with Print?

Product feature icon Instant access to your digital eBook copy whilst your Print order is Shipped
Product feature icon Paperback book shipped to your preferred address
Product feature icon Download this book in EPUB and PDF formats
Product feature icon Access this title in our online reader with advanced features
Product feature icon DRM FREE - Read whenever, wherever and however you want
OR
Modal Close icon
Payment Processing...
tick Completed

Shipping Address

Billing Address

Shipping Methods
Table of content icon View table of contents Preview book icon Preview Book

Essential Meeting Blueprints for Managers

Chapter 2. Regularly Scheduled Status Updates

The first meeting I want to talk about is probably the one we attend the most. It's the regularly scheduled meeting to exchange information. This meeting might be held daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annually. It could be conducted via phone call or in-person.

Regularly scheduled status meetings are the ones that show up on our calendar before the agenda has even been decided. For that reason, they often become the ones we dread the most. It doesn't have to be that way!

When used properly, status meetings have an important role in organizations. This chapter will outline how to turn that "every Tuesday at 2 o'clock" meeting into something valuable and worthwhile.

Goal of the meeting


The goal of the status meeting is based upon two factors:

  • Meeting frequency

  • Attendees

Meeting frequency refers to how often the meeting is conducted. A daily meeting will have a different goal than a weekly meeting. Weekly meetings should be different from monthly meetings, and so on.

The frequency of a meeting is usually driven by the organizational culture. Alexa Von Tobel is the founder and CEO of LearnVest.com, a financial-management and lifestyle website. In an article, she wrote for Inc.com, Von Tobel shares how often LearnVest.com conducts status meetings. "We hold an all-hands meeting every two weeks and I do a 'State of the Union' address to everyone, every three months. That may not work for your start-up, but it's certainly worked for us." In the same article, she points out that it's okay to change how often meetings are held. "Over the years, I found that having meetings once a week was too much—we didn't have enough updates worth stopping the whole team for...

Common challenges and how to overcome them


Dustin Moskovitz and Jason Womack, writing for TheBuildNetwork, cited a Psychology Today study that said 70 percent of employees say status update meetings don't help them get any work done. They suggest that the way to cure ineffective meetings is to manage meeting time rigorously, including setting days of the week when meetings are not allowed. One company calls it "No Meeting Wednesday."

I agree that status meetings often get a bad reputation for being time wasters. It's a common challenge. The meeting becomes a time waster in two ways:

  • Holding the meeting when it's not needed

  • The meeting lasts too long

However, declaring a day of the week when meetings cannot be held seems like you're trading off one problem for another. For example, what if the company has a huge presentation to a client on Thursday and needs a last minute meeting on Wednesday to review details? Does the company risk losing a piece of business because of "No Meeting Wednesday...

Before the meeting


Meetings that are held on a regular basis need agendas. They don't have to be printed agendas; they can be e-mailed, although printed agendas can be helpful. In my experience, participants can forget to bring agendas, even when you tell them to print and bring the agenda to the meeting. This causes a delay at the beginning of the meeting, because someone will have to go print a handful of agendas.

For some meetings, a printed agenda isn't practical. The stand-up meeting I mentioned earlier didn't have a printed agenda, but the format was exactly the same every day:

  • The Operations Manager opened the meeting and shared any noteworthy items.

  • The Sales Director discussed special visitors and VIPs.

  • The Human Resources Director shared important employee announcements.

  • There was an open floor for any other matters.

The meeting was simple and straightforward. If the Sales Director wasn't present, he sent the assistant director to report in his place. Everyone knew the agenda and it...

During the meeting


A regularly scheduled status meeting should have four parts:

  • Welcome

  • Outstanding agenda items

  • New agenda items

  • Action steps and wrap-up

During the welcome, the meeting chair should convey any meeting logistics, introduce new participants, and provide some introductory points. If the group meets in the same place, then everyone probably knows the logistics, for example where the bathrooms are located. But for groups that rotate their location, this is important. In addition, for groups that meet infrequently, including a planned activity during the introduction to connect the participants is important.

Welcome activity for groups

Groups that meet quarterly or annually need a moment to reconnect before getting down to the business of the meeting. Think of reconnecting as being similar to a training icebreaker. The goal is the same: participants get to learn about each other and become comfortable with their surroundings.

The reconnect activity can be a traditional introduction...

Using today's technology


Because status meetings can be easily held over the phone, technology is an important consideration. Employees who work virtually have the benefit of using computers, laptops, tablets, and even their smartphones to participate in meetings. The challenge becomes making sure that when the meeting is being held using technology that participants are paying attention.

Program Manager Nicole Steinbok presented a concept at the event Seattle Ignite 9 called the 22 Minute Meeting. She explains that 30 and 60 minutes don't leave any time to get things done between meetings, so 22 minutes allows us to hold a meeting and still sort things out in between. Since the meeting is short, Steinbok recommends banning the use of technology. For 22 minutes you ought to be able to completely focus.

Theoretically, this is totally true. For a short meeting, like a stand-up meeting, people should be able to focus on the content and not check their devices. The longer the meeting, the more...

After the meeting


I mentioned earlier that taking meeting minutes is a tough job. It's also a very essential role. Minutes are the record of the meeting. They are necessary for so many reasons:

  • Distribution beyond the meeting: Often, meeting minutes are distributed to absent participants and to interested parties that were not in attendance. I would share executive team meeting minutes with my department. And I would share department meeting minutes with my boss.

  • Record of discussion: If there is ever a question about a decision made during the meeting, the minutes can serve as a resource. For instance, the decision to change the date of the employee holiday party; various dates were discussed but which one was finally agreed upon?

  • Planning tool for in-between meetings: This is why I love SMART plans. The person responsible for the action steps agreed upon during the meeting can use the minutes as a planning tool.

  • Defense of a decision: While none of us want to focus on this aspect, in...

5 tips for a better meeting


I've discovered some of the best advice, tips, and resources for meetings by watching and listening to others. Here are some pointers you can incorporate into your next meeting:

Kristofer Cooper, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Morse Life, a recognized provider of health care, housing, and support services for seniors and their families, says preparation is key:

"We've implemented this meeting tip in my department and have found it very successful. It's somewhat odd and unconventional, but sends the message that participants should come to the meeting prepared. Here's the structure/tip: the team comes once a week for a stand-up meeting. All the members of the team must stand up and say what the most important event over the next week is and what they need help on. Oddly it keeps it focused and short and sweet but drives home the message that people need to be prepared. Each member of the team can challenge the other member of the team with no...

Summary


A status meeting is exactly that—a meeting to share the status of something. They're important for keeping the business running. If the meeting stays focused on that goal of keeping the operation informed, then the meeting stays valuable and productive. Groups can also use tools, such as meeting agendas and the parking lot, to keep the conversation on track.

How often you conduct a status meeting is based on the status you're sharing. It can range from daily to annually. The goal is to create a balance between holding them enough to get good information but not so much that participants get bored.

In the next chapter, we're going to talk about another kind of sharing meeting—brainstorming.

Left arrow icon Right arrow icon

What you will learn

  • Steps for designing an effective training meeting Gain buy-in from your colleagues with effective communication and strong ideas Master a four-step process for strategic planning that focuses on specific goals Sustain positive results by successfully following up meetings and implementing decisions Explore how you can use technology to keep meetings engaging and productivity Learn strategies to encourage creative problem solving to make sure your meetings add value to your organization
Estimated delivery fee Deliver to Italy

Premium delivery 7 - 10 business days

€17.95
(Includes tracking information)

Product Details

Country selected
Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : Mar 10, 2015
Length: 252 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781783000821
Concepts :

What do you get with Print?

Product feature icon Instant access to your digital eBook copy whilst your Print order is Shipped
Product feature icon Paperback book shipped to your preferred address
Product feature icon Download this book in EPUB and PDF formats
Product feature icon Access this title in our online reader with advanced features
Product feature icon DRM FREE - Read whenever, wherever and however you want
OR
Modal Close icon
Payment Processing...
tick Completed

Shipping Address

Billing Address

Shipping Methods
Estimated delivery fee Deliver to Italy

Premium delivery 7 - 10 business days

€17.95
(Includes tracking information)

Product Details

Publication date : Mar 10, 2015
Length: 252 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781783000821
Concepts :

Packt Subscriptions

See our plans and pricing
Modal Close icon
€18.99 billed monthly
Feature tick icon Unlimited access to Packt's library of 7,000+ practical books and videos
Feature tick icon Constantly refreshed with 50+ new titles a month
Feature tick icon Exclusive Early access to books as they're written
Feature tick icon Solve problems while you work with advanced search and reference features
Feature tick icon Offline reading on the mobile app
Feature tick icon Simple pricing, no contract
€189.99 billed annually
Feature tick icon Unlimited access to Packt's library of 7,000+ practical books and videos
Feature tick icon Constantly refreshed with 50+ new titles a month
Feature tick icon Exclusive Early access to books as they're written
Feature tick icon Solve problems while you work with advanced search and reference features
Feature tick icon Offline reading on the mobile app
Feature tick icon Choose a DRM-free eBook or Video every month to keep
Feature tick icon PLUS own as many other DRM-free eBooks or Videos as you like for just €5 each
Feature tick icon Exclusive print discounts
€264.99 billed in 18 months
Feature tick icon Unlimited access to Packt's library of 7,000+ practical books and videos
Feature tick icon Constantly refreshed with 50+ new titles a month
Feature tick icon Exclusive Early access to books as they're written
Feature tick icon Solve problems while you work with advanced search and reference features
Feature tick icon Offline reading on the mobile app
Feature tick icon Choose a DRM-free eBook or Video every month to keep
Feature tick icon PLUS own as many other DRM-free eBooks or Videos as you like for just €5 each
Feature tick icon Exclusive print discounts

Frequently bought together


Stars icon
Total 78.97
Essential Meeting Blueprints for Managers
€24.99
Workshop in a Box: Communication Skills for IT Developers
€20.99
StartupPro: How to set up and grow a tech business
€32.99
Total 78.97 Stars icon
Banner background image

Table of Contents

11 Chapters
Meeting Roles, Responsibilities, and Activities Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Regularly Scheduled Status Updates Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Brainstorming Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Networking Meetings Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Training Meetings Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Employee Performance Conversations Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Focus Groups Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Pitch Meetings Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Strategic Planning Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Project Meetings Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
The Work Doesn't End When the Meeting is Over Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
(4 Ratings)
5 star 100%
4 star 0%
3 star 0%
2 star 0%
1 star 0%
Cathy Fyock Jun 16, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I hate bad meetings! Unfortunately, there are too many of them today in which countless hours and dollars are wasted. I love Sharlyn's book in which she outlines the different types of meetings, and offers valuable tips, notes, resources, and action steps for making meetings more productive. She explores practical ideas for planning meetings, executing effective gatherings, and following up after the meeting. This is a practical, actionable book that should be on every leader's bookshelf.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
RMB7 Jun 30, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Sharlyn hit it out of the ballpark! Just about everyone is complaining about too many meetings these days. Most often, people talk about wasted time and unstructured meetings that zap energy and productivity. In this book, she shares practical advice on how to turn those awful meetings into highly productive, results-oriented events. She touched on all aspects of meetings and created a terrific resource for anyone who wants to up their meetings game! Loved the book!
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Michael Figliuolo Jun 07, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Meetings are terrible. Very few people are effective at running them. Given the amount of time we spend (or waste) in meetings, getting better at running them is critical.This book is an outstanding resource for doing a better job of running your meetings. It offers a comprehensive look at the various types of meetings you might find yourself in along with practical tips and guidance for making that meeting more effective. It's worth reading simply for the meeting taxonomy alone.This book is now one of my "go to" resources for my coaching efforts as I help executives improve their performance. I'll make sure they pick up a copy if they're struggling with meeting performance (or even if they're doing okay but could do better). If you run or participate in meetings, you'll find this to be a valuable resource. Get it now. Use it immediately.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Renie M Apr 27, 2015
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Why do I think this book is dust-resistant? Because it is actionable. It will be regularly taken off the shelf and used. Sharlyn is very talented and this is just the kind of resource you would expect from her. An awesome brainstorming chapter. Tips on incorporating training into meetings - and technology. It is a great "grab what you need" resource. If your meetings are in a rut, this is a great resource for the money.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Get free access to Packt library with over 7500+ books and video courses for 7 days!
Start Free Trial

FAQs

What is the delivery time and cost of print book? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Shipping Details

USA:

'

Economy: Delivery to most addresses in the US within 10-15 business days

Premium: Trackable Delivery to most addresses in the US within 3-8 business days

UK:

Economy: Delivery to most addresses in the U.K. within 7-9 business days.
Shipments are not trackable

Premium: Trackable delivery to most addresses in the U.K. within 3-4 business days!
Add one extra business day for deliveries to Northern Ireland and Scottish Highlands and islands

EU:

Premium: Trackable delivery to most EU destinations within 4-9 business days.

Australia:

Economy: Can deliver to P. O. Boxes and private residences.
Trackable service with delivery to addresses in Australia only.
Delivery time ranges from 7-9 business days for VIC and 8-10 business days for Interstate metro
Delivery time is up to 15 business days for remote areas of WA, NT & QLD.

Premium: Delivery to addresses in Australia only
Trackable delivery to most P. O. Boxes and private residences in Australia within 4-5 days based on the distance to a destination following dispatch.

India:

Premium: Delivery to most Indian addresses within 5-6 business days

Rest of the World:

Premium: Countries in the American continent: Trackable delivery to most countries within 4-7 business days

Asia:

Premium: Delivery to most Asian addresses within 5-9 business days

Disclaimer:
All orders received before 5 PM U.K time would start printing from the next business day. So the estimated delivery times start from the next day as well. Orders received after 5 PM U.K time (in our internal systems) on a business day or anytime on the weekend will begin printing the second to next business day. For example, an order placed at 11 AM today will begin printing tomorrow, whereas an order placed at 9 PM tonight will begin printing the day after tomorrow.


Unfortunately, due to several restrictions, we are unable to ship to the following countries:

  1. Afghanistan
  2. American Samoa
  3. Belarus
  4. Brunei Darussalam
  5. Central African Republic
  6. The Democratic Republic of Congo
  7. Eritrea
  8. Guinea-bissau
  9. Iran
  10. Lebanon
  11. Libiya Arab Jamahriya
  12. Somalia
  13. Sudan
  14. Russian Federation
  15. Syrian Arab Republic
  16. Ukraine
  17. Venezuela
What is custom duty/charge? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customs duty are charges levied on goods when they cross international borders. It is a tax that is imposed on imported goods. These duties are charged by special authorities and bodies created by local governments and are meant to protect local industries, economies, and businesses.

Do I have to pay customs charges for the print book order? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

The orders shipped to the countries that are listed under EU27 will not bear custom charges. They are paid by Packt as part of the order.

List of EU27 countries: www.gov.uk/eu-eea:

A custom duty or localized taxes may be applicable on the shipment and would be charged by the recipient country outside of the EU27 which should be paid by the customer and these duties are not included in the shipping charges been charged on the order.

How do I know my custom duty charges? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

The amount of duty payable varies greatly depending on the imported goods, the country of origin and several other factors like the total invoice amount or dimensions like weight, and other such criteria applicable in your country.

For example:

  • If you live in Mexico, and the declared value of your ordered items is over $ 50, for you to receive a package, you will have to pay additional import tax of 19% which will be $ 9.50 to the courier service.
  • Whereas if you live in Turkey, and the declared value of your ordered items is over € 22, for you to receive a package, you will have to pay additional import tax of 18% which will be € 3.96 to the courier service.
How can I cancel my order? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Cancellation Policy for Published Printed Books:

You can cancel any order within 1 hour of placing the order. Simply contact customercare@packt.com with your order details or payment transaction id. If your order has already started the shipment process, we will do our best to stop it. However, if it is already on the way to you then when you receive it, you can contact us at customercare@packt.com using the returns and refund process.

Please understand that Packt Publishing cannot provide refunds or cancel any order except for the cases described in our Return Policy (i.e. Packt Publishing agrees to replace your printed book because it arrives damaged or material defect in book), Packt Publishing will not accept returns.

What is your returns and refunds policy? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Return Policy:

We want you to be happy with your purchase from Packtpub.com. We will not hassle you with returning print books to us. If the print book you receive from us is incorrect, damaged, doesn't work or is unacceptably late, please contact Customer Relations Team on customercare@packt.com with the order number and issue details as explained below:

  1. If you ordered (eBook, Video or Print Book) incorrectly or accidentally, please contact Customer Relations Team on customercare@packt.com within one hour of placing the order and we will replace/refund you the item cost.
  2. Sadly, if your eBook or Video file is faulty or a fault occurs during the eBook or Video being made available to you, i.e. during download then you should contact Customer Relations Team within 14 days of purchase on customercare@packt.com who will be able to resolve this issue for you.
  3. You will have a choice of replacement or refund of the problem items.(damaged, defective or incorrect)
  4. Once Customer Care Team confirms that you will be refunded, you should receive the refund within 10 to 12 working days.
  5. If you are only requesting a refund of one book from a multiple order, then we will refund you the appropriate single item.
  6. Where the items were shipped under a free shipping offer, there will be no shipping costs to refund.

On the off chance your printed book arrives damaged, with book material defect, contact our Customer Relation Team on customercare@packt.com within 14 days of receipt of the book with appropriate evidence of damage and we will work with you to secure a replacement copy, if necessary. Please note that each printed book you order from us is individually made by Packt's professional book-printing partner which is on a print-on-demand basis.

What tax is charged? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Currently, no tax is charged on the purchase of any print book (subject to change based on the laws and regulations). A localized VAT fee is charged only to our European and UK customers on eBooks, Video and subscriptions that they buy. GST is charged to Indian customers for eBooks and video purchases.

What payment methods can I use? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

You can pay with the following card types:

  1. Visa Debit
  2. Visa Credit
  3. MasterCard
  4. PayPal
What is the delivery time and cost of print books? Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Shipping Details

USA:

'

Economy: Delivery to most addresses in the US within 10-15 business days

Premium: Trackable Delivery to most addresses in the US within 3-8 business days

UK:

Economy: Delivery to most addresses in the U.K. within 7-9 business days.
Shipments are not trackable

Premium: Trackable delivery to most addresses in the U.K. within 3-4 business days!
Add one extra business day for deliveries to Northern Ireland and Scottish Highlands and islands

EU:

Premium: Trackable delivery to most EU destinations within 4-9 business days.

Australia:

Economy: Can deliver to P. O. Boxes and private residences.
Trackable service with delivery to addresses in Australia only.
Delivery time ranges from 7-9 business days for VIC and 8-10 business days for Interstate metro
Delivery time is up to 15 business days for remote areas of WA, NT & QLD.

Premium: Delivery to addresses in Australia only
Trackable delivery to most P. O. Boxes and private residences in Australia within 4-5 days based on the distance to a destination following dispatch.

India:

Premium: Delivery to most Indian addresses within 5-6 business days

Rest of the World:

Premium: Countries in the American continent: Trackable delivery to most countries within 4-7 business days

Asia:

Premium: Delivery to most Asian addresses within 5-9 business days

Disclaimer:
All orders received before 5 PM U.K time would start printing from the next business day. So the estimated delivery times start from the next day as well. Orders received after 5 PM U.K time (in our internal systems) on a business day or anytime on the weekend will begin printing the second to next business day. For example, an order placed at 11 AM today will begin printing tomorrow, whereas an order placed at 9 PM tonight will begin printing the day after tomorrow.


Unfortunately, due to several restrictions, we are unable to ship to the following countries:

  1. Afghanistan
  2. American Samoa
  3. Belarus
  4. Brunei Darussalam
  5. Central African Republic
  6. The Democratic Republic of Congo
  7. Eritrea
  8. Guinea-bissau
  9. Iran
  10. Lebanon
  11. Libiya Arab Jamahriya
  12. Somalia
  13. Sudan
  14. Russian Federation
  15. Syrian Arab Republic
  16. Ukraine
  17. Venezuela