How to Curb Negativity in the Workplace
How to Curb Negativity in the Workplace
Meeting management is one of the most important aspects to maintaining productivity and curb negativity in the workplace. When employees are more involved in the decision making process they are more likely to work harder to see the goals through to completion and are going to be happier employees overall which reduces negativity. Meetings are instigating when information needs to be presented to employees, when ideas need to be taken from employees, and when the organization as a whole needs to find ways to improve their time and productivity. Since meetings are the stepping stone to these aforementioned qualities, it is no wonder that meeting management are a means to encourage meeting productivity and thereby improve overall employee and corporation productivity.
Purpose
The first key to meeting management is to ensure each meeting has a purpose. After the purpose is defined, the meeting should have an agenda. An agenda cannot be met without the third component: a timeframe. The purpose of each meeting should be expressed at the start of the meeting, or in a memo prior to the start. Meeting management means that you list the agenda after the purpose of the meeting. This is done so that those in attendance are aware of which items will be reviewed, discussed, or inspected. If an individual or group is directing a particular discussion, review, or inspection, it is important for proper meeting management that you inform everyone else who will be handling this or who will be speaking. It is also important that you express the start and end time for each meeting. Expound upon this be setting durations for each item in the agenda to ensure that the total items to do go past the timeframe.
On Time
Once a meeting start time has been established, it is imperative to proper meeting management that you begin on time. If people arrive late, it is best for the entire group not to recognize their tardiness. They will have to review the covered information on their own and the rest of the group should not be subjected to a review. Should the person hosting or sponsoring the meeting arrive more than five minutes late, it is perfectly acceptable to assume that the meeting is canceled and for all employees to return to work.
Record
Another aspect of meeting management is assuring that someone maintain records of the minutes of each meeting. These records should mirror the agenda, another reason having an agenda is so important. The minutes should discuss details of the agenda, those in attendance, which agreements were made, and any further actions taken. Those who attended the meeting should receive a copy of these minutes within twenty four hours following a meeting. Anyone who was missing or affected by the agenda and discussions should also be given a copy.
Stay Focused
With an agenda and time frame, staying focused is one of the simplest aspects of meeting management. Seeing as those in attendances are informed of the agenda, it should be the responsibility of everyone to ensure that the meeting stays focused and on topic, not straying too far to either end. Above all else, meeting management means productivity. Each subsequent meeting should expound upon the productivity of the last, ever increasing as time passes and encouraging growth within the company.
By keeping your meetings to the point and productive, employees are less likely to dread attending them and change their negativity in the workplace. This will keep your employees on topic and concerned about the tasks at hand.