The document provides 10 quick tips for better meetings from Steve Kaye. The tips include avoiding unnecessary meetings, preparing an agenda, budgeting time appropriately, being selective about attendees, informing participants, focusing discussion on the topic, providing a safe environment, recording all ideas, being fair, and protecting one's own time by only attending important meetings. The overall message is that meetings should be carefully planned and facilitated to make the most effective use of participants' time and ideas.

1. Better Meetings
10 Quick Tips
by

2. Meetings
#1 Avoid Meetings
• Ask: “How Else Can I Solve This?”
- Phone Call?
- Conversation?
• Ask: “What Happens Without This?”
- If “Nothing” Cancel the Meeting
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

3. Meetings
Key Point
A Meeting Is the Most
Expensive Way to Find
Solutions and Reach
Agreements.
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

4. Meetings
#2 Prepare an
• Lack of a Plan Scares People
- They Retaliate by Misbehaving
- Or They Hide by Saying Nothing
• Lack of a Plan = Bad Leadership
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

5. Meetings
Key Point
If You’re Too Busy to
Prepare an Agenda,
You’re Too Busy to Hold a
Meeting.
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

6. Meetings
#3 Budget Time
• Include a Time Budget in Your
Agenda
• Spend Time in Proportion to the
Value of the Results
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

7. Meetings
Key Point
A Meeting Is a Business
Project that Must Earn a
Profit.
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

8. Meetings
#4 Be Selective
• Invite Only Those Who Can Make
Meaningful Contributions
• Leave out Spectators
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

9. Meetings
Key Point
A Large Meeting Costs
More and Requires More
Skill to Obtain Useful
Results.
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

10. Meetings
#5 Inform Others
• Send the Agenda Early
- Allow People to Prepare
• Call Key Participants
- Confirm Expectations
- Check on Preparation
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

11. Meetings
Key Point
Leaders Make It Easy
for People to Succeed.
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

12. Meetings
#6 Focus on the Issue
• Avoid Jokes, Stories, and
Unrelated Issues
• Use Questions to Direct Attention
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

13. Meetings
Key Point
People Use Jokes and
Stories to Dominate in
Your Meeting.
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

14. Meetings
#7 Provide Safety
• Insist on Respect
• Allow Everyone to Contribute
• Avoid Ridicule, Criticism, and Other
Attacks
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

15. Meetings
Key Point
A Safe Environment
Encourages People to
Contribute Better Ideas.
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

16. Meetings
#8 Record Everything
• This Record Becomes:
- The Result of the Meeting
- A Rough Draft of the Minutes
• This Also Helps:
- Maintain Focus
- Avoid Duplicate Ideas
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

17. Meetings
Key Point
Documenting People’s
Ideas Shows Respect for
Their Thinking.
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

18. Meetings
#9 Be Fair
• Involve Everyone
• Prevent a Few From Dominating
• Reach Agreements Through
Consensus
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

19. Meetings
Key Point
People Will Support
Results Obtained
Through a Fair Process.
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

20. Meetings
#10 Protect Yourself
• Attend Only Meetings That Matter
• Ask for The Agenda and Your Role
Before Agreeing to Attend
• Use the Agenda to Prepare High
Value Contributions
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

21. Meetings
Key Point
Your Conduct in Meetings
Shows Your Effectiveness
as a Leader.
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

22. Meetings
Want to Know More?
• www.stevekaye.com
• www.stevekaye.typepad.com
I Can Help. Call Me.
Steve Kaye
714-528-1300
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com

23. Meetings
Steve Kaye
• Author, Speaker, Facilitator
- Since 1992
• More Info at:
- www.stevekaye.com
- 714-528-1300
• Want Results That Last? Call Me.
© Steve Kaye • P.O. Box 208 • Placentia, CA 92871 • 714-528-1300
www.stevekaye.com