How to Survive a Meeting

How to Survive a Meeting: Coffee (Plus More!)

By Lyndsey Walthall

It’s here. The big spring meeting. You have no idea how—last week was the first week of January, right? Those first fuzzy days back at work after the holiday season where no one knows what day it is, and last year is scratched out on every paper you see, the new one scrawled messily above it. Alas—it is no longer January. No, it’s April. And you have a meeting next week.

Let’s cover the basics of what makes a meeting bearable: coffee. That’s it. Okay, I’m being facetious, there’s a bit more to it than that, but coffee (or some other caffeinated beverage) does not hurt. Beyond caffeine, you want to be prepared. In order for a meeting to be successful you need to have a concise idea of what needs to be discussed. Reports and budgets, presentations and (if applicable) handouts printed and ready to be distributed. More than likely you’re only allotted a certain amount of time in which to complete this meeting, so going in with nary a clue of, what, exactly you’re doing will not only be a waste of your time, but that of your colleagues and your company’s money.

We’ve talked about the importance of changing the scenery in a previous blog post. The same goes for here: if the thought of spending yet another meeting in the windowless, musty office basement is not appealing (and really, why would that ever be appealing), chances are it’s time to mix things up. After all, this meeting isn’t until next week, so you have time to research different locations. Why not a hotel boardroom, or outdoors at a café if the weather is nice? Better yet, book your meeting with BCI! We have four conference rooms, a training center and a boardroom (with LOTS of windows) just waiting to host your meeting. Did I mention the free parking and supportive staff?

Rounding out this list, remember to assign tasks to people to help keep them engaged, be open to creative input and avoid multi-tasking so as not to become frazzled. There. Now don’t you feel more prepared for next week’s meeting? Take a deep breath, don’t forget to grab the coffee and full steam ahead!