The 3 P's of a Successful Meeting

Plan - Prepare - Practice

Yes! The 3 P's actually work.  Both for the person running the meeting and the attendees.
...below are some bullet points, please add comments with your "best practices."

Plan:

• Date (day of week and date).
• Location (address/map/be specific).
• Time (start and finish).
• Theme (creates interest).
• Agenda (and a Plan B for emergencies).
• Number of attendees, names and business / roles.
• Expected outcome (creates expectations).
• Food? Drinks? Special needs?

Prepare:

• Finalize and send out agenda.
• Confirm attendance (ask for any special needs).
• Prepare your presentation(s), and questions and comments.
• Share with attendees what they need to bring to the meeting.
• Follow up and confirm with location and food.
• Attendees: confirm and clarify expected outcomes, agendas, themes with chairperson before meeting day.
• Listen to weather reports. (have a plan B for travel arrangements)

Practice:

• If you are running the meeting, do several mock run-throughs with yourself or friends and family.
• If you are contributing to the meeting practice your speech, presentations, questions and comments.
• Make sure you know exactly where the meeting is located. Drive to the location the day or night before.
• Make it a standard practice to arrive at all meetings 15 minutes early.
• Make it a standard practice to follow up on meeting action steps.
• Make it a standard practice to thank facilitators and attendees of the meeting, for their time and participation.
• Make it a standard practice to ask for feedback, if applicable.
• Make it a standard practice to schedule the next meeting before meeting ends, if applicable.

"Failing to plan, prepare and practice...creates a practice of preparing a plan that will fail."

Copyright (1-28-2013) by Bob Gambone.