I think we need a term for #meetingfatigue.

Whether it is hours on Zoom or in-person, meeting fatigue is real. Some meetings are quite necessary. They are great for communication, problem solving, shared learning and the like BUT too many meetings are unnecessary with more being accomplished through an email or quick phone call. Here are some pointers:

1. Keep your meetings to 90 minutes or less. It's better to have a series of meetings than one mega-meeting most of the time (some exceptions are granted when doing strategic planning or conducting a retreat, but these are exceptions, not the rule.)

2. Have an agenda and follow it. Hear me, leaders and facilitators. HAVE AN AGENDA AND FOLLOW IT. No side-bars, no rabbit trails, no unannounced hi-jack of meetings.

3. Know your purpose. NEVER meet for the sake of meeting. Never meet only because it's what we do the second Tuesday of the month at 2pm. All meetings should have a clear purpose.

4. Know when you're done. If people are glazing over, end the meeting and finish business another time. It's the leader's job to be observing the room and ensuring productive meetings occur.

5. Make a task list of actionable steps and make sure it gets done. Know who is responsible for each task and build in a deadline/timeline.

Let's make sure our meetings are productive and well planned. Fatigue will still happen but at least it's moving us toward a goal. If you need help organizing or strategizing about a meeting, reach out. You know we have a #training for that.

-Mindy Muller, CFRE, President/CEO of CDP

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