If you are going to be in a meeting, decide to make it worth your while. It is the ultimate demonstration of respect to your colleagues when you take your attendance seriously.
To do list for every meeting:
Start by reading the agenda thoroughly. If one is not provided, solicit one from the organizer.
- Prepare ahead of time, consider your position on each topic, do research and gather evidence, info, photos, information, reports, materials etc.
- Complete all of your action items thoroughly on or before the due date.
- Ask the organizer, facilitator, leader any questions that you have ahead of the meeting.
- In other words, be prepared in any way that you can imagine.
Regarding meeting invitations, reply as soon as you receive the request, using the following guidelines:
- Reply accept / yes if you believe that you can attend.
- Reply decline / no if you will not be attending.
- Reply- tentative / maybe if you are not certain that you will not be attending. However, you should never let a meeting start with your status as tentative / maybe. As soon as you know whether you will be attending or not; change your response.
At the meeting:
- Exhibit active listening
- Push yourself to participate
- Follow the meeting norms for the group / organization
- Never leave the meeting with a hidden agenda. Be open with your thoughts, opinions and concerns.
How could we deal with a boring meeting? Speak out courageously. Tell the meeting facilitator, suggest a solution and suggest that the group brainstorm solutions. The wrong answer is to continue attending boring meetings.
Just my opinion. What do you think? Let me know in the comments.
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The Sapiens Society 
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