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June 15, 2008 ( PowerHomeBiz
) - Atlanta, GA --
Let’s be straight; most people do not like meetings. When asked why meetings
are so distasteful, the typical worker’s response often goes like this,
“Don’t get me started with meetings. Our company’s meetings are a complete
waste of time.” Indeed Roger Mosvick and Robert Nelson (1987) found that
employees commonly dislike meetings for a variety of reasons; these reasons
include the leader was not prepared, the meeting was irrelevant, and a
certain group of people kept getting off the subject.
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Since meetings are a must for successful companies, it is helpful to
periodically review the principles of high-quality meetings. These
principles include: First, the effective manager masters time. John Cragan,
David Wright, and Chris Kasch (2004) recommend that meetings are purposeful
and take no more time than necessary. To ensure this, a manager should
distribute an agenda in advance so that employees know what to anticipate in
the meeting and can prepare to participate in it.
Second, the effective manager gives attention to employee satisfaction.
Meetings are excellent opportunities to boost morale. Managers should take
the time to recognize employee accomplishments and seek feedback. Once a
meeting has finished, a manager should send a short email reiterating what
was accomplished in the meeting to reinforce its value. This is especially
important for groups that meet once a week or less.
Third, the effective manager seeks consensus. Consensus occurs when
employees arrive at a decision that everyone can support. Research indicates
that employees are more productive when they’ve been a part of the decision
making process (Keyton, 2002). Consensus works best when it develops from
group interaction and is not forced by a manager. Moreover, consensus tends
to encourage future collaboration. Keep these principles in mind, and your
employees will benefit from, and recognize the importance of, company
meetings.
About the Author:
Dr. Philip Aust is a professor at Kennesaw State University (KSU). He
teaches Organizational Communication Audits, Leadership, Training and
Development, and Research Methods in the Department of Communication at KSU.
Dr. Aust’s research focuses on leadership in organizational, group, and
interpersonal contexts. He examines emerging leadership perspectives,
messages associated with productivity and task quality, and leader
performance. He has authored and co-authored book chapters and articles
published in such journals as Communication Studies, Basic Communication
Course Annual, and Communication Teacher.
Dr. Aust regularly conducts communication consultations for profit and
non-profit Atlanta-based companies. He has worked with over 25 companies in
the last three years.
Email Philip:
philipaustpr@searchlogixgroup.com
Submitted by:
Sarah Gerstenlauer
Executive Assistant
The SearchLogix Group
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