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Bad Meetings Happen to Good People: How to Run Meetings That Are Effective, Focused, and Produce Results
Everyone hates poorly-run meetings—they’re a waste of time, and people dread them. If you consistently lead bad meetings, you lose trust and credibility. People notice.
But meetings are necessary, and even worthwhile. A well-run meeting can be one of the most efficient ways to move a project forward or solve a problem.
Imagine yourself consistently...
This book is your step-by-step instruction manual. Filled with expert guidance, time-tested checklists, real-life examples, and advice for how to handle problems that derail even the most well-planned meetings.
BY USING THIS BOOK, YOU’LL LEARN…
BY FOLLOWING THIS BLUEPRINT, YOU’LL BE ABLE TO…
But meetings are necessary, and even worthwhile. A well-run meeting can be one of the most efficient ways to move a project forward or solve a problem.
Imagine yourself consistently...
This book is your step-by-step instruction manual. Filled with expert guidance, time-tested checklists, real-life examples, and advice for how to handle problems that derail even the most well-planned meetings.
BY USING THIS BOOK, YOU’LL LEARN…
BY FOLLOWING THIS BLUEPRINT, YOU’LL BE ABLE TO…
186 pages, Paperback
Published October 18, 2017
157 people are currently reading
126 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 29, 2023
What are your favorite quotes from the book?
"Time and attention are the most valuable things we have."
"Recognize that you are a work in progress. You won't know everything, but neither does anyone else. You're constantly learning, and failures are opportunities to grow."
What is a specific real world application that you will be able to make from what you learned in this book?
Lay out better meeting agendas. "If there's no clear agenda or goal, it will be a poor use of everyone's time. Be clear on the meeting goal. 1. What items do we need to address in the meeting? 2. What results do we want to accomplish?" Clarifying this before the meeting will reduce unnecessary delays to get to the goal of the meeting. I liked the idea of using action verbs to begin of each line of the agenda as this will clarify and lead to the desired result of the agenda item. Also predetermining the time for each agenda item will help keep the meeting on track to end timely.
What is the one thing that you think you will do differently or think differently about since you read the book?
I will be more selective inviting attendees to help keep the meeting on point in order to make the necessary decisions and not waste peoples time and company resources. "Remember that the more people you include in the meeting, the harder it will likely be to reach a decision. Don't include people who don't need to be there or the meeting could become unproductive." "Don't invite people who simply want to observe. If these people aren't important to the discussion, then it is a waste of their time (and company money) to have them sit in the meeting.'' - When setting up meeting room layouts, I will be more aware of doing so in a Fashion that addresses the needs of
the meeting as well as not providing opportunities for attendees to be easily distracted. - Also when splitting attendees into smaller groups, I will pay closer attention to who is in each group ensuring that we do not split up those who tend to dominate conversations. Keep them in the same group allows the other groups to be more successful as they will have better conversations.
What is one point you disagreed with, or at least questioned, in this book?
"Let the speaker know that you're listening. Nodding and facial expressions can indicate that you're listening. You might say "yes" or "uh-huh" as they talk to indicate you're engaged." I find this distracting when leading a meeting and god knows how many times I have said "uh-huh" and not actually heard what a person was saying.
"Time and attention are the most valuable things we have."
"Recognize that you are a work in progress. You won't know everything, but neither does anyone else. You're constantly learning, and failures are opportunities to grow."
What is a specific real world application that you will be able to make from what you learned in this book?
Lay out better meeting agendas. "If there's no clear agenda or goal, it will be a poor use of everyone's time. Be clear on the meeting goal. 1. What items do we need to address in the meeting? 2. What results do we want to accomplish?" Clarifying this before the meeting will reduce unnecessary delays to get to the goal of the meeting. I liked the idea of using action verbs to begin of each line of the agenda as this will clarify and lead to the desired result of the agenda item. Also predetermining the time for each agenda item will help keep the meeting on track to end timely.
What is the one thing that you think you will do differently or think differently about since you read the book?
I will be more selective inviting attendees to help keep the meeting on point in order to make the necessary decisions and not waste peoples time and company resources. "Remember that the more people you include in the meeting, the harder it will likely be to reach a decision. Don't include people who don't need to be there or the meeting could become unproductive." "Don't invite people who simply want to observe. If these people aren't important to the discussion, then it is a waste of their time (and company money) to have them sit in the meeting.'' - When setting up meeting room layouts, I will be more aware of doing so in a Fashion that addresses the needs of
the meeting as well as not providing opportunities for attendees to be easily distracted. - Also when splitting attendees into smaller groups, I will pay closer attention to who is in each group ensuring that we do not split up those who tend to dominate conversations. Keep them in the same group allows the other groups to be more successful as they will have better conversations.
What is one point you disagreed with, or at least questioned, in this book?
"Let the speaker know that you're listening. Nodding and facial expressions can indicate that you're listening. You might say "yes" or "uh-huh" as they talk to indicate you're engaged." I find this distracting when leading a meeting and god knows how many times I have said "uh-huh" and not actually heard what a person was saying.
April 27, 2018
Great overall guide
This book covers all aspects of the meeting process from landing the meeting through follow ups. Great examples of what could go wrong ad how to prevents problems from occurring. Practical tips and stories to solidify the concepts. Also many useful templates to help get started right away. The key is being disciplined enough to follow the many aspects of leading a successful meeting for is intended purpose that will result in overall progress. I highly recommend for beginners and skilled facilitators.
This book covers all aspects of the meeting process from landing the meeting through follow ups. Great examples of what could go wrong ad how to prevents problems from occurring. Practical tips and stories to solidify the concepts. Also many useful templates to help get started right away. The key is being disciplined enough to follow the many aspects of leading a successful meeting for is intended purpose that will result in overall progress. I highly recommend for beginners and skilled facilitators.
March 21, 2020
Good, especially for new people in the corporate world
Much of what's in this book I've learned the hard way as the author describes at the beginning. Even still knowing a lot of it there were some gems and areas I can improve. I recommend this for anyone going the corporate world and would recommend managers to purchase it for new hires because the question of, "Should this be a meeting" is one many still don't ask.
Much of what's in this book I've learned the hard way as the author describes at the beginning. Even still knowing a lot of it there were some gems and areas I can improve. I recommend this for anyone going the corporate world and would recommend managers to purchase it for new hires because the question of, "Should this be a meeting" is one many still don't ask.
May 12, 2019
Great book!
Great book with lots of important information on how to make meetings count and run better meetings. Some things may be obvious, but together this presents a great resource to keep handy when you run meetings all the time.
Great book with lots of important information on how to make meetings count and run better meetings. Some things may be obvious, but together this presents a great resource to keep handy when you run meetings all the time.
January 29, 2020
Solid overview for someone new
If you're new to the corporate world and need a book on how to run a solid meeting then this book is for you. Personally, I was looking for something with a little more depth when it relates to 1:1 meetings and I couldn't find that here.
If you're new to the corporate world and need a book on how to run a solid meeting then this book is for you. Personally, I was looking for something with a little more depth when it relates to 1:1 meetings and I couldn't find that here.
January 7, 2025
Informative and easy to read and understand. Some of the action items in the book are useful for people beginning their management career while others are targeted to seasoned project managers.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews