{"id":6179,"date":"2019-09-10T13:56:04","date_gmt":"2019-09-10T18:56:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/5bd4f92546.nxcli.net\/?p=6179"},"modified":"2019-11-07T14:04:32","modified_gmt":"2019-11-07T20:04:32","slug":"3-things-your-business-can-do-to-host-better-meetings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bluecotton.com\/blog\/business\/3-things-your-business-can-do-to-host-better-meetings\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Things Your Business Can Do to Host Better Meetings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Collaboration rests at the core of every successful business – and meetings are a cornerstone of collaboration. At least in theory. We all know what they end up being in practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Instead of getting work done, you sit in a boardroom talking about getting work done. Instead of being productive, you and your peers pontificate on how <\/em>to be productive. Instead of doing something<\/em>, you do nothing – but you still expend time and energy discussing what you should do. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unsurprisingly, after a certain point, you simply tune out.  Instead of thinking about the purpose of the meeting, you\u2019re watching the clock. You\u2019re daydreaming about your job, about what you\u2019re doing after work, about what you\u2019ll have for lunch \u2026 basically, anything but the meeting itself.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note that we\u2019re not saying you should do away with meetings altogether. Nor are we trying to claim that meeting fatigue is some horrendous epidemic. But neither are we saying that your meetings cannot be improved. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a survey carried out by collaboration expert West Unified Communications<\/a>, 86 percent of respondents indicated that they believe meetings are necessary. The same survey, however, found that 44 percent felt they could achieve positive results without attending as many meetings. Moreover, while 43 percent of people were active participants in their meetings when attending less than five per week, only 21 percent <\/em>participated actively in all their meetings when attending five or more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In short, the key to better meetings – and to staving off meeting fatigue –  involves both quality and quantity. Here are a few steps you can take in that regard. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t Host Meetings Just for the Sake of Doing So<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve all had a colleague or two who seem to have a love affair with meetings. They host meetings to discuss their team\u2019s daily plans. They host meetings to talk about minor edits to collaborative projects. They host meetings to talk about upcoming meetings. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s exhausting. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to avoid being like them, there\u2019s a golden rule you should follow. Never call a meeting for something that can be achieved through simple communication.<\/em> Before you decide your team needs to sit down and talk, ask yourself the following questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n