The Meeting Card

IS THIS MEETING REALLY NECESSARY?
It's better to have no meeting than a worthless one.

WHAT ARE WE DOING HERE?
(Circle one): The primary goal of this meeting is to: inform, persuade, decide or analyze. 

WHAT'S THE AGENDA?
This will be clearly stated at the start. [In most cases, a copy will have been distributed in advance.]

WE'VE DONE OUR HOMEWORK 
We will have completed any required assignments prior to the meeting.

NO RAMBLING
We will stick to the meeting agenda/purpose. If any of us starts to ramble (no matter how brilliantly), the others will quietly hold up their Meeting Cards and the story will be saved for another time. There will be no hard feelings. We've all rambled.

HAS EVERYONE HAD A CHANCE TO CONTRIBUTE?
We won't let a few people dominate the discussion. We'll make an effort to include everyone.

NO SEETHING NOW AND BADMOUTHING LATER
If we disagree, we'll voice our concerns in a polite and professional manner at the meeting.

WHAT HAVE WE ACCOMPLISHED?
At the end of the meeting, the leader will summarize the meeting's achievement(s).

DO WE NEED A FOLLOW-UP MEETING?
If so, let's decide on a tentative time and agenda before we leave the room.

GET OUT OF DODGE!
When this meeting is over, each of us will leave. We won't linger and turn this into two meetings.

[Compliments of Sanders Wade Rodarte Consulting Inc. - www.swrci.com]