Meet Less -Do More!

A few years ago, I remember reading a report from a friend of mine who had been tasked with attending and reporting back on the results of a provincial meeting.  At the conclusion of her report, she finished by summing up with; "We've had enough meetings, let's get to work on it!" 

I'm sure there are many, in corporations large and small, for profit and not for profit, who feel the same way.  When you can spend up to a quarter of your time either in meetings or preparing for meetings, it can become a colossal time-waster! 

So, what to do?  


I read, 'The One Minute Manager' years ago, and was intrigued by the notion that a management meeting could last one minute. I whole-heartedly recommend this book. If anyone is so inclined, the pic to the right is of this book.  If you want to change the way your company does at least some of its meetings - go get the book! 

There is another book, The One Minute Manager Action Guide.  This is a very short 33 page book that will guide you through implementing the one minute management style. What Dr's Blanchard and Johnson refer to in this book is accountability.  

Accountability is something that could make or break a company and so we have meetings.  Meetings to determine what the problems are; meetings to determine what some of the possible fixes could be; meetings to determine action items; meetings to get reports back on those items; meetings to determine what else we could do to bridge the gaps. Sound familiar? 

And, finally, the one minute manager in you knows your most important assets in your company are the people who work for you.  They can be an asset or a liability - the choice is yours.  You can become their coach, their human resources specialist and their action coordinator.  But, in the end, what you need to be is their manager.  Be an effective one.  Do what matters!