With engineers spending an increasing amount of their time in meetings as they climb the corporate Ladder, Margaret Donnelly reports on how to get the most from these workplace events. "Unnecessary" and "a complete waste of time" are two of the most negative, yet common, phrases associated with meetings. Love them or loath them, meetings are often mandatory, and the organiser of any meeting should ensure they are as productive as possible. Most people think having an agenda for a meeting will suffice to ensure the meeting is as productive as possible. But setting the agenda is just the first step towards a successful meeting. Mike Fiszer, of the Irish Management Institute, says the first basic question the person calling the meeting should ask is "why am I having this meeting". If you are calling a meeting, ask yourself is everyone needed for the meeting? Is everyone who is needed at the meeting, going to be there? If they are not then the meeting cannot resolve whatever issue is at stake. Will all the information, needed for a successful outcome, be available at the meeting?
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