How to conduct successful meetings

A recent study revealed that management preforms four sets of activities: traditional planning, controlling, and decision making; networking; communication; and human resource management. Communication, transmitting information in a form that can be understood, is the key factor that runs through all managerial activities. The main means of business communication are one-on-one communication, telephone calls, memoranda, and meetings. The only justification for a meeting is the need to achieve some goal. When planning for effective meetings, the establishment of goals is the most important variable determining its success or failure. The meeting leader should prepare an agenda, start the meeting on time, keep the discussion focused, control input, summarize the major points and confirm any decisions, and close the meeting on time.