I wish you productive encounters.

I really love productive meetings. Perhaps it's my 'doer' side that appreciates movement forward or perhaps it's the energy gained by connecting with like-minded individuals toward a common purpose. No matter the why behind my adoration of quality assemblies, I value them.

I had a quality meeting recently. It was the perfect balance of professional and personal. I left feeling recharged, excited about the next steps in the mutual project and thankful to be on the team and part of the process. To make the most of meetings, consider these principles:

*Time is our most precious commodity. No one needs a meeting that wastes that time. If you are meeting only to check a box, you are doing yourself and those attending a disservice.

* If you experience dread ahead of a meeting or are prone to skip it, take a hard look as to why. Okay, every now and then there may be a topic on the agenda that's difficult, but aside from an occasional exception, if you lament the regular gathering and connection, you need to ask why. Is the meeting not run well? Do you feel invisible, unimportant or uninvolved? Is there a lack of forward movement or disorganization?

* How can you/we improve the meeting? Do we need different, more or less people there? Are they too long? too short? unfocused? Do you have an agenda and is it followed? Does the facilitator fail to herd the cats? Are rabbit trails permitted and unstopped? Meetings CAN be positive but sometimes we have to take a hard look and make sure meetings are accomplishing something.

Meetings are/can be good but it takes some intentionality to make them productive. This week I wish you nothing but productive encounters.

-Mindy Muller, CFRE, President/CEO of CDP

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