You attend a high-level meeting to discuss concepts for a new building.

You lead a corporate board meeting.

You meet once a week/day/quarter for a business update.

Whether you lead or attend a meeting here’s the one question you must ask that will guarantee more focus, productivity, and involvement. And, above all else, GET THE MEETING DONE IN RECORD TIME!

“When we leave this meeting at 3pm (fill in blank with the time you will walk out of the room) what will have made our time successful?”

Here’s what you’ve accomplished:

1. You have made it clear when the meeting will end. If you are the leader you have shared this vital info with your group. If you are a participant, you’ve helped the leader and other attendees focus on when everyone will exit stage left.
2. You have forced some clarity around goals, value, and results.
3. You have encouraged involvement about what would make this valuable time effective.

I asked a successful businessman, “Marvin – you’ve been president of many philanthropic boards. You have accomplished so much on these boards. What’s your secret to being an effective president?” He responded without hesitation, “Short meetings.”

Ask the bolded question and you will run and/or attend shorter and more effective meetings.