10 key points for the perfect meeting to-do list
1. Name and Type of Meeting
Although it might seem obvious, giving your meeting a name also gives it more meaning and helps clearly and effectively define the subject.
It’s also important to specify the format so that participants know immediately what is expected of them. For example: brainstorming, project launch, progress report, company reorganization, etc.
10 Key Points for the Perfect Meeting To-Do List
A to-do list for organizing a meeting in ten key points.
Accor experts have defined the essential factors required to ensure your meeting is organized under the best possible conditions and with as effective an outcome as possible.
Although it might seem obvious, giving your meeting a name also gives it more meaning and helps clearly and effectively define the subject.
It’s also important to specify the format so that participants know immediately what is expected of them. For example: brainstorming, project launch, progress report, company reorganization, etc.
Setting a date and time—and sticking to it—is essential to ensure that all the participants can plan and prepare for the meeting in the best possible conditions. Unless it is a plenary session or a business unit meeting, a week’s notice is ideal.
This allows everyone to check their schedule and organize their time more efficiently. With regard to the duration, remember that the more time we have to do something, the more time it tends to take us. It’s up to you to decide the most effective time slots and to control discussions to avoid them exceeding their allotted time.
– “Are we in the Buenos Aires Room?” – “No, it’s the Rio!” To avoid wasting anyone’s time, remember to book an event room in advance and stick to it!
Choose a space that meets your needs: number of participants, Wi-Fi access, screens, projectors, flip charts, natural light, etc.
Before you start, think carefully about all the types of people that could add value to your meeting. We tend to surround ourselves with people that we get along well with, but they’re not necessarily the best people to attend and enrich the event!
Choose them carefully according to the objectives you want to achieve. Bringing together different kinds of people with different skills is also a chance to involve and develop your teams.
Nothing beats a friendly and well-structured brief introduction to kick off discussions and get your colleagues engaged. Explain the purpose of the meeting using straightforward language and with plenty of enthusiasm so that everyone wants to get involved.
Then remind everyone about the context so that they fully understand the issues and define clear objectives for the meeting. Why are we here? And what do we want to achieve?
To make things easier to understand and enhance involvement and interactivity in the meeting, number the different parts of the meeting, indicating the speakers who will take part and the expected duration of their intervention.
Often placed at the end of the meeting, this moment is dedicated to a related, or even completely different subject. The objective is to get people to share things to open minds and spark their curiosity. It’s a surprising and informative break that teams always really appreciate.
It is important to schedule a slot for discussion during your meetings. This will ensure the understanding of the points discussed by the various members of your team. Additionally, it is important to remain open to exchanges that may follow this meeting.
An important step not to forget is to present the conclusions of the discussions. Provide a quick summary of the essential points to remember and any tasks assigned to anyone as a result of the discussions.
To keep track of everything that was discussed, a feedback report is an important team memory tool. It’s essential for ensuring that everyone stays on the right course and coming back to any discussions if needed during the project.
It’s also the best way for any people that are unable to attend the meeting to catch up with proceedings and ensure that everyone has the same level of information.