Today's managers spend up to 75% of a workday in meetings, according to Scott Snair, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Motivational Leadership, and most of that time spent in meetings is unproductive.  Here are four of his tips on increaseing that productivity:

1. Limit the Invitee List.  Only bring key players.  Inviting everyone else won't help the discussion or improve the dissemination of information.
2. Restrict Your Goals:  Limit the agenda to a few important items.  Too many goals dilutes any attempt at progress.
3. Prepare.  Don't start thinking about the meeting once it starts because you will quickly lose control of it.  Spend as much time preparing for it as you do conducting it.
4. Get Lost.  Once the meeting ends, don't allow all of those after-meeting meetings.  Those conversations lead to second guessing.  Tell everyone to speak their piece while they have teh chance.

For more information on conducting great meetings, go to our Downloads Tab, click on Bonus Materials, and read the White paper on "How to Conduct Great Meetings."  For more indepth information, Earning Success, the second book in our Success Series, takes an indepth look at productive meetings.  It can be ordered from our Home Page.