Everyone spends part of their week in meetings--some short some long, some good, some dreadful.  What follows are some tips for running great meetings (Fortune magazine, Oct. 27, 2008):

• Diane Bryant, CIO, Intel: To ensure effective and efficient meetings, new hires receive training on conducting meetings.  Each conference room has a poster with guidelines.  Agendas must be emailed to participants before meetings so everyone comes in prepared.  Attendees must be critical to the decision making process.
• Jan Fields, EVP and COO, McDonald's: Most organizations meet too often; they distract people from their work.  Everytime someone is in a meeting, they are not getting their work done.  Operate off a one page agenda.  Handouts are OK (1 to 2 pages max), but PowerPoint presentations as handouts are not acceptable.  Set agendas and cancel unneeded meetings.
• Peggy Klaus, President, Klaus and Associates: People are overwhelemed by the sheer number of meetings they must attend.  At the start of each meeting, take 5 minutes and establish the rules of participation.  Minimize the number of participants by asking what will each person contribute if they attend.