Dying of meetings?

Have you ever caught yourself in transcendental meditation in the middle of a meeting you are facilitating? Chances are, you are dying of meetings (DOM) for seldom does it occur when the person who is facilitating a meeting catches himself suppressing a yawn or dreaming dreams so far away from the discussion at hand. Like time freezes, and the subconscious mind just rolls on and on while consciousness tries to deliver what is required. The DOM syndrome is likely to occur when you fleet from one meeting to another.

That's what happens you just "fleet over", like a busy bee, stopping for just enough nectar before moving on to the next bloom. Unlike the bee though, some of us may not get any nectar at all.

Meetings should hold attention by being relevant and substantive. Considering the numerous things that vie for attention, you have to prepare to compete.

Human attention span is said to be only good for 20 minutes, others say it takes only eight minutes before the mind moves to another interest. If so, a meeting must be designed in a very purposive manner so that the adult who is a most weary conduit of information can add to luggage and still digest what you are saying.

When you plan for your meeting, think of the following simple tips: What meeting would you want to attend? What will keep you interested in the topic at hand? How would you like your facilitator to handle the meeting? What will keep you focused? Who would benefit most from the meeting? Then pattern the meeting you preside on how you yourself would want to spend your time.

Adults are selective in their attention giving and since you know they are busy whether literally or just a matter of imagination, knowing that you can't keep them interested for long should give you the motivation to keep your meetings short. With the length of time you hold your gatherings you should likewise consider the time to meet. Be on time to start and on time to end.

Invite only those you want to discuss with into the meeting. Chances are they are the only ones who can interact properly and make decisions on the topic at hand. Representatives may sometimes benefit but most often if they are not on board, they get bored.

Prepare your presentation materials and make them visually interesting as well as substantive. Plan your agenda so that it will only take the shortest time and cover a realistic lot. Beyond the attention span, the people in your meeting will be creating their own small meetings and social discussions.

An important tip I have learned from an article posted on the Internet is "Don't divide people's attention." (www.allbusiness.com).

Due to our lack of time to meet we have developed the habit of having working breaks and lunch meetings. Mind you, when one is at lunch, he focuses on the food. The meeting is secondary. So eat first then meet next. If you are not that hungry, meet then eat. Never meet and eat at the same time. Chances are as he is digesting his food; he is rejecting your words. Besides, he can't react with his mouth full or while his eyes are sorting the spines from the fish.

Meet at lunch or dinner but discuss when one task is done. Play it by ear, but make sure you get more than the ear of your meeting partner otherwise, don't meet for serious stuff. Although it is known that some business deals are concluded at lunch dates or dinner, the groundwork is sure to have been done prior to this engagement. When in a negotiation meeting, make sure attention is focused and you have the full intensity of the precious 8 to 20 minutes. It will just be a waste of time to force a meeting if there are too many distractions. Clear the path for concentration, creatively shed off disturbances so you'll not find yourself DOM again.