Time is scarce in everyone’s day. And, because meetings can take up a large part of your day, the time you spend in meetings is crucial. Technology can be a positive and thing when it comes to meetings; virtual meetings, for example, can help engage people and make a stronger connection. But it can also distract people entirely. So make your meetings a no tech zone by putting away your laptop, iPad and mobile phone.
Let’s face it. We all think we can multi-task, but we’re not really good at it. Case in point: texting while driving. Bad idea. The problem is that our performance decreases when we multi-task (read the study here). It’s best to focus on one thing ¾ the meeting ¾ to get you the best results
Try this: When you’re in a meeting and you see people on their laptops or tablets, ask them a question. I guarantee they will ask you to repeat it. Or, if they are on the phone, they will apologize and say they are on mute. Why? Because they’re not paying attention to what’s going on in the meeting!
You want to jot down some notes during the meeting? Fine. But bring a pen and paper. Studies show that taking notes by hand results in a stronger conceptual understanding of the topic and greater success in applying that knowledge. Handwriting notes lets you listen, digest and summarize what’s going on in the meeting.
So make your meetings a “no tech” zone by turning off the electronics and tuning in to the people in the room.
Janice Mars, principal and founder of SalesLatitude, is a senior business and sales executive with more than 30 years of experience helping companies build successful sales teams. She has parlayed that experience to help her clients to improve their sales processes, accurately forecast revenues, ensure focus on winnable opportunities, and attain consistent results. View my LinkedIn profile | Twitter
