Deborah Wilburn examines an issue close to my heart: how to run more efficient meetings. I have a weekly meeting at the office that can last about two hours, when an hour, max, typically will do. Anyway, Deborah has some advice for managers on time-management:

HAVE AN AGENDA
"An agenda is a common understanding of what the meeting should accomplish," says Libin [Scott M. Libin, a member of the Leadership and Management faculty at The Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, Florida]. For example, are we getting together to brainstorm? To discuss ideas already submitted? To troubleshoot? The manager should not only determine the agenda, but communicate it ahead of time-perhaps via email-to anyone who should be there. Regular meetings, such as weekly editorial updates, wouldn't require a written communication, as long as attendees understand why they are meeting so that they can come prepared. Sally Tusa, who was managing editor of Babytalk for two years before becoming editor-in-chief of Lamaze Parents and Baby Steps, is a big believer in the agenda. "You want people to feel like you're meeting for a purpose instead of just meeting to meet."

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