We've all sat through long and boring meetings where very little action or resolution occured.  As management leaders, however, it is our responsibility to keep meetings brisk and productive.  Best Life magazine (November 2007) offered several good suggestions to maximize meetings.  Limit attendence to decision makers and key implementers--omit inviting observers who can only slow down the process.  All meetings must have an agenda.  Very good agendas also list the amount of time for each topic as well as the goal for that particular meeting.  Most importantly, it is your responsibility to keep the discussion on point and moving towards task assignments or resolution.

For more tips onrunning better meetings, click on the Download tab above, and dowload "How to Conduct Meaningful Meetings," an excerpt from our second book, Earning Success, currently in production.