Make Meetings Matter: How to Turn Meetings from Status Updates to Remarkable Conversations

by Paul Axtell

Meetings should matter. No one wants to be called in for a meeting that could've been an email. No one wants to sit in a meeting where everyone's distracted or talking over each other. If you're going to attend or lead a meeting, don't you want it to…well, matter? Meetings are a chance to initiate a conversation with your teammates. You can communicate information with them that wouldn't have the same hold digitally. You can foster new relationships with your coworkers, and learn from their new ideas and perspectives. So why do so many people dread meetings? Because they're doing them all wrong. Change the way people think about meetings. Transform their opinions by holding a meeting that is efficient and productive, that is open and communicative, that is useful and important. Revolutionize the definition of a meeting. Learn to make them matter. Paul Axtell affirms the importance of meetings, and he redesigns them using the vital foundation of conversation. With real-life examples and actionable advice, he shows you how to design meetings for results, lead them to achieve agendas that move projects forward, and even allow time for building the relationships that make working together in a remarkable way possible. Based on his award winning efficiency training, this book will revolutionize the meeting―moving it from that dreaded obligation to a powerful way to get things done in business and in life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Business, Professional Development

168 pages, Hardcover

Published February 1, 2020

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing is simple and clean, easy to read. I found the stock images and inspirational quotes a little irritating and cheesy.

Unfortunately the people who need this book most will never read it.

[kimGknits · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great reminder for how to have successful meetings. It has some great reminders on how to keep people informed that don't need to attend the meeting so you can save more people in your organization some time.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't think this book has lot of insights and depth. It is mostly some very basic common sense points for meetings in big organisations. Not exactly what I was looking for.

[Matt Busche · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read, the first half had some useful tips, the second half wasn't near as useful

[Danette · Rating 4 out of 5]

practical

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to implement and simple ideas that can improve meetings. This book helped me reflect on how I present in meetings and what I expect/hope for from my colleagues.

[Rachel Greenspan · Rating 5 out of 5]

applicable to all meetings - such a quick and easy read, useful, and helps focus meetings to be purposeful.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book. Short practical advice thay was so easy to digest that I read it with my coffee for breakfast. Lots of great takeaways.

[Cynthia Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not holding meetings but when I do, I will return to this book!

[Carlos Ramos · Rating 3 out of 5]

A short book about meetings, that has some good tips that can be put to practice. Is a good book, but will keep looking int osome other resources on how to deal with meetings.

[Broken Lifeboat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick read! I got a lot out of this book and am rethinking the weekly team update meetings I inherited when I became project manager. I'll be restructuring based on some of the books guidance as I was able to compare to effectiveness of some external meetings I attend. I didn't get as much out of the active listening points in the book or rather, they were more acknowledgments on what I already do rather than epiphanies for me. I'd recommend -it's short enough that no time really wasted if you don't get anything from it.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very quick read with useful tips to start having better meetings right away.