In a meeting, two or more people come together, in particular to have discussions, often in a formalized way.
Instead of coming together physically (in real life, face to face), also communication lines and equipment can be set up to have a discussion between people at different locations, e.g. a conference call or an e-meeting.
In organizations, meetings are an important vehicle for human communication. They are so common and pervasive in organizations, however, that many take them for granted and forget that, unless properly planned and executed, meetings can be a terrible waste of precious resources.
Because of their importance, a career in professional meeting planning has emerged in recent years.
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Topics in meetings
- Facilitation
- Open space conference
Types of meeting
- Staff meeting -- typically a meeting between a manager and those that report to the manager (possibly indirectly).
- Team meeting -- a meeting among colleagues working on various aspects of a team project.
- meeting -- a meeting called together for a special purpose
- Management meeting -- a meeting among managers
- Board meeting -- a meeting the Board of directors of an organization
- One to one meeting -- a meeting between two individuals
Seven rules for meetings
Training material for how to hold an effective meeting often lists rules such as:
1. Be clear about the meeting’s objective
2. Create a solid agenda
3. Prepare in advance
4. Discussion-management process
5. Use of time
6. Plan, discuss and assign roles
7. Pre- and post-meeting communication
See also
- Meeting system
- Organizational development
- Quaker meeting for worship
- Agenda
- Scientific meeting
- International Congress Calendar