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If you could only get back the time you gave to boring, ineffective, useless meetings!
Meetings give the impression something’s getting done when usually it isn’t.
There’s too much talking in meeting
because people aren’t focused on doing.
One rule transforms every meeting from ineffective to effective.
Rule one:
Mercilessly cut everything that isn’t connected to action.
Three functions of rule one:
Every agenda item must do at least one of three things:
- Enhance efficiency – improve action.
- Generate assignments – create action.
- Stop ineffectiveness and/or inefficiency – prevent action.
Guidelines for rule one:
- All “information-giving” must clearly inform action. Always explain the connection to doing.
- Determine options for action, when you’re problem solving and innovating, then give assignments.
- Don’t spend so much time improving things you haven’t done yet. Do something; improve as you go.
- Explore what isn’t working and improve it or end it. Organizations that…
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I/O Musings of a Skeptical Positivist 
I like Rule One “Mercilessly cut everything that isn’t connected to action.”, that is, without reading further the original blog. This is when the Action Item Register can be helpful.
I agree!
You’ll be surprised what these simple questions set in motion. For one thing, the knowledge leader running the meeting has made it clear that he or she expects people in the organization to seek learning and knowledge from outside their teams…they have been given official ‘license’ to spend time sharing and transferring experience across boundaries. And, since word travels fast after these kinds of meetings, others will quickly get the message as well.