E is for Efficiency

I was impressed. So was my colleague. It was admirable. So I wanted to pull together some lessons and tips on what I observed and how you might incorporate some of these ideas into your business (and or meetings) to be more efficient and effective.

1. Set the Standard in the Beginning – The meeting was officially called to order by the board chair welcoming everyone, stating the objectives and sharing the meeting methodology they would be using. He gave a brief explanation of the model and why it had been adopted. You see what happened there? Even as a newbie to this meeting, you are clear on the procedures and how the meeting is conducted. Good stuff, right?

2. Create Procedures that Address Your Challenges – Like I said, my colleague and I were impressed by the efficiency of this meeting so when I had the chance I had to ask. As I assumed, this was not how it had always been. Their board, like many, had previously suffered from those overly long, drawn-out meetings that often left members feeling overwhelmed, so they addressed it. They found a solution by identifying and changing their meeting protocol which also included updated technology.

3. Stick to the Protocol – Although establishing new protocols, processes and procedures are great ways of standardizing areas of your business or organization, they only work when they’re followed. It’s easy to back paddle away from solid guidelines, because who really wants those, right? It’s incredibly easy to let a meeting get away from you. It doesn’t sound like a big thing initially, but once it happens it starts to show up again and then in other places. That’s where good leadership comes in. A good leader can walk the line of establishing and maintaining processes and procedures that allow them and their staff, team, board, etc. to feel both efficient and effective.

This meeting didn’t feel stiff, forced or rushed. It felt right!

My colleague and I presented at the meeting. We were able to stay the full time, get additional insight into the organization, meet the board members and feel fresh and energized afterward. It was lovely!

My final thoughts: It is possible to create a meeting, atmosphere, and culture that is efficient, effective, purposeful and productive when you give a little forethought to how to do it and take the time to institute a strategy around it.