Manage Your Time – Plan An Agenda – Make The Most Of Your Meetings (Part 2)
Choosing what information should go onto the agenda can be tricky. If the meeting is a recurring event, then you probably want to begin by adding a section devoted to recapping what happened at the last meeting. For instance, if your meeting occurs every month, write a “Last Month’s Recap” section and spend just a few moments going over what was accomplished. Then you can proceed to current sections. Add each main point that you plan on discussing. If there are formal activities that must be done, such as voting on issues, be sure to add that as a bullet on your agenda. Adding the names and introductions of guest speakers is great as well. This will allow everyone to get the proper spelling of the guest’s name. When you are adding information to the agenda, keep in mind your meeting’s time frame. Do not add a bundle of information that you will not likely get around to discussing. If you are heading the meeting, do not be afraid to say “We must move on from this issue right now”, if you are going over on one issue.
Closing
Adding a small closing to the agenda is the perfect way to end your memo. You can add a little section with notes about what will be discussed at the next meeting. Adding the date, time, and location of upcoming events is also a great idea. You can also add a little “thank you” section to those who participated or headed certain tasks throughout the month. If you are having a corporate meeting, you can also add goals or deadlines that everyone should be aware of. It is up to you on what to add to the closing section.