Mark Hamade

Have you ever found yourself in a meeting, and realized, they don’t need you here?  Have you ever freely given your time, only to find it was squandered and wasted in the end?

Here are five areas to ask about before agreeing to attend your next meeting.

1) Goals

What are the goals for the meeting? Why are you holding this meeting? What do you want to have when you finish?

If you receive a vague answer, such as, “to discuss business” or “just to talk about something,” be warned that this meeting lacks direction.

2) Plan

What is your agenda? How do you plan to accomplish these goals? What will we do during the meeting?

You want to know the plan for the meeting before you agree to attend. A meeting without an agenda is like a journey without a map.

Note that a meeting without a clear goal or a complete agenda will always waste your time.

3) Me

What is my role in the meeting? Why are you asking me to attend? What do you expect of me during the meeting?

You want to attend only those meetings where you have an impact. Otherwise, ask for a copy of the minutes.

4) Them

Who else is coming to the meeting? Why have you asked them to attend? How well do they support your goals for the meeting?

This tells you how to prepare and what to expect. Otherwise, you could find yourself being invited to an ambush.

5) Logistics

How should I prepare? What should I bring? What else do I need to know about this meeting? Where is it being held?

Attending a meeting without sufficient preparation will make you appear incompetent. If the time required to prepare exceeds what you can afford, suggest alternatives such as rescheduling the meeting.

It is important that you are in the meetings where you really have direct interest and have something to contribute. By asking some of the above questions, you can avoid wasting your time on meetings where your presence is not necessary.