Best Resources for Better Meetings

Let’s face it: we spend a lot of time in meetings.
 
On average, employees attend 62 hours of meetings in a month, according to Forbes magazine. Related research from Bain & Company found that executives spent up to 15% of an organization’s collective time in meetings, a percentage that has been increasing in the last decade.
 
Sure, we could schedule fewer meetings but we could also make better use of the time we have together.
 
Earlier this year, I shared some tips with our our local chamber about how to make meetings more efficient, more productive, more fun. To prepare for the presentation, I analyzed observations and inhaled information from respected speakers and authors exploring similar topics. Below are some of the resources I found most helpful plus links to other Reach Partners posts related to #BetterMeetings.
 
Whether you have 15 minutes or five days, you’ll find these resources engaging. Enjoy!
 
–Rachel

Meetings, Meetings, Meetings!
Here are some good resources to help you make the most of your time together:

VIDEOS

• The 22 Minute Meeting by Nicole Steinbock – Learn 9 easy steps to better meetings. Seriously, it’s as easy as washing your hands!

 
BOOKS

• Where the Action Is, the Meetings That Make or Break Your Organization by J. Elise Keith – A resource for making every kind of business meeting better.
• The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker – Starting with purpose will make every meeting or gathering meaningful
• The Surprising Science of Meetings by Stephen G. Rogelberg

ARTICLES

• 9 Ways Introverts Can Be Heard in Meetings |Science of People

Culture at Work 
Productive, meaningful meetings can only take place when you have a supportive and encouraging team and work environment. Here are some tools to help you define and build a work environment for positive innovation:

VIDEOS

• Building a Psychologically Safe Workplace by Amy Edmondson, TEDxHGSE
• Why Good Leaders Make You Feel Safe by Simon Senek, TED
• How to Build a Company Where the Best Ideas Win by Ray Dalio, TED

BOOKS

• Dare to Lead by Brené Brown – This book reflects on how to bring your whole person to work, every day, every meeting.
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ARTICLES

• 14 Ways You Can Improve Psychological Safety at Work | Forbes
• Five Questions About Psychological Safety, Answered by Wendy Hirsch | Science for Work
• High-Performing Teams Need Psychological Safety. Here's How to Create It by Laura Delizonna | Harvard Business Review
• Ofactor Pulse Survey - A way for you to measure organizational trust
• Google Guide to Team Effectiveness – The tech giant looks into what makes teams effective and innovative.

 
Reach Partners Articles
At Reach Partners, we’ve done a lot of research and thinking about how to make meetings better. After all, we’ve attended and led our fair share of them. Here are a few of our favorite blog posts on the topic:

• Why Face-to-Face Gatherings Matter
• No Meeting Agenda? Yes, That's a Problem
• Silence as a Super Power
• The Recap:Start Off Your Meetings Strong
• Eat, Pause, Move: Bring Focus to Your Meeting
• How to Use Rituals to Build Better Connections
• Guerilla Tactics for Keeping Meetings on Track