Two managers were talking: "Let's cut the staff meeting today," says the first.

"We can't," responds the second.

"Why not?"

"I need the sleep."

Can You Spell B-O-R-I-N-G?

Like most people, I hate meetings. But I know I shouldn't. After all, what's the harm in a bunch of colleagues getting together in a room to discuss matters that directly affect what they do? Yet, I do dread them so, and wish fervently that I could avoid them. And my colleagues feel the same way. Why?

I'll tell you why: It's because most meetings are boring. They're also usually unproductive. I've attended hundreds of two and three-hour meetings where no more than five minutes worth of work was accomplished. And even those five productive minutes were almost impossible to sit through!

If we want meetings to be more stimulating and more productive, we need to change this. We need to make the meeting "interesting."

Is this possible? Yes, it is. Here are six things you can do to shake-up your meetings.

1. Spice Up the Meeting Agenda

If you want to inject life into a meeting, start with the agenda. Think of it not as a list of "topics to be addressed" but as an invitation to participate. Who doesn't like getting invited to a party? The party part is part of the reason. But so is the fact that you get invited. Meetings, too, can be less of a dread if you're issued an invitation.

Tinker around with the format of your agenda-invitation. For example, why not include an interesting fact, quote, or question related to one of the meeting topics? One manager I know occasionally uses a humorous card to call a meeting. It's a little thing but it helps dispel the boredom.

2. Slay a Sacred (Meeting) Cow

Roger Von Oech writes in his best-selling book A Whack on the Side of the Head that, "some rules are so successful that they become immune to criticism. These are the 'sacred cows.' As a result, people are afraid to challenge them."

There are sacred cows about meetings. One of the best things you can do is slay them. Consider the following possibilities:

• Must you have the meeting in a conference room? Why can't you have it in a hallway, or at a table outdoors, or even inside a van?
• Are you the chairperson for the committee? So what? Let someone else take a turn at chairing the meeting.
• If you provide refreshments, are they always the same - coffee, donuts and juice? The coffee may be required fare, but try replacing the donuts with ice cream or some other tasty treat now and then

Intermission

These first two tips are fairly conservative. What I'm about to suggest next requires a little more gumption. These are the suggestions that some might avoid for fear of appearing foolish or unprofessional. But if you've got the guts, you should try them.

3. Show Some Enthusiasm

Sam Walton, founder of Wal-Mart Stores and one of the richest men in America began every company meeting with a cheer. "Give me a W... give me an A.. . give me an L.," he would joyously shout until "Wal-Mart" was spelled out.

You don't need to jump and cheer. But you should try to be more like Sam Walton. Show some enthusiasm and get attendees involved as much as possible. Heck, I've even turned meetings into short skits.

4. Use Props

I've had wonderful success by using props. For example, I've used a box full of shoes to show that leather-soled running shoes are as protective as many dress shoes. To prove a point I have also used:

• Music
• A horse whip
• Live animals

5. Hold Super-Short Meetings Now and Then

Many meetings, especially staff meetings, are too long. Here's a challenge: See if you can cover all the business in your weekly staff meeting in 11 minutes - just to prove to yourself that it can be done.

One reason meeting leaders balk at shortening meetings is the fear of making bad decisions. Of course, haste makes waste. But the occasional short meeting can result in good, sound decisions. There's solid evidence that those who rely on intuition in their decision-making make more profitable decisions than those who don't.

How do you create meetings that are more intuitive? By simply not allowing every item needing a decision to get bogged down in details. Set a short time limit on decision-making items. Then move them along quickly.

6. Add Some Showmanship

Whether you are conducting an annual sales meeting or chairing the ever-popular staff meeting, adding some showmanship is a great way to make sure it isn't boring. Here's an excerpt from Bill N. Newman's book Handbook for Successful Sales Meetings. Even though it is a description of a "sales" meeting, it does show how effective any meeting can be when it is festive:

A sales promotion manager devised a sensational way to introduce a new merchandising aid. He conducted a coroner's inquest!

Several days before the meeting, he showed the new aid to several top salespeople. In the interest of field testing, a few of them were permitted to use it. Then came the meeting.

When the sales promotion manager was introduced, there was no mention of his subject. As he rose to speak, a recording of a funeral march was played. A mock funeral procession entered from the rear of the room! It was led by an "undertaker," complete with makeup, dark suit, and stovepipe hat. Two "pallbearers" followed, carrying a "casket."

The speaker had the casket placed on a table while a coroner's inquest was conducted. Ten witnesses were called to the front and seated apart from the audience. They were questioned one at a time.

The first expressed the opinion that unsuccessful salespeople were being eliminated by a new sales aid his department had designed. "It's a tool so powerful that no salesperson will hereafter be successful." Other witnesses confirmed the opinion.

Salespeople who had field tested the item told of their success in using it. By carefully selecting the witnesses and asking well-prepared questions, the speaker had painted a very rosy picture.

A gavel was banged and the verdict announced: "The findings are that the death was caused by the new sales aid. The new aid is bringing an end to all unsuccessful sales efforts."

At that moment, the "corpse" jumped out of the casket! It was a real shocker since the audience had no reason to believe someone was actually in the box!

He ran to the speaker's stand and grabbed the new sales aid. Then he raced out of the room yelling, "Don't bury me - I want to use it, too!"

Conclusion

The event described above lasted only 22 minutes. But it was 10 times better than a speech or "regular" meeting of twice the duration. Be courageous and don't be afraid to create a festive agenda at your next meeting.

THE POWER OF YOUR PERSONALITY

How to Thrill People

By Richard Hawk

Do you want people to like you right away? Of course you do. Even better: how would you like it if people felt happy and inspired soon after they meet you? That would be wonderful, wouldn't it? You probably wouldn't mind being able to play the piano brilliantly.

What does it take to achieve these lofty goals? Practice. Tons and tons of practice. Constant and consistent stretching, learning and awareness. Here's a list of a few skills you need to practice to get people to be thrilled with your company:

• Smile so that your inner feelings of joy and playfulness come through.
• Moving your body smoothly and with casual control.
• Using your eyes to softly connect with the people around you.
• Sculpting the tones of your voice so that it is pleasing to listen to.
• Telling stories with ease and flourish.
• Listening with a crisp focus.

MEMBERS' REPLY

A Better Idea for Hotel Safety

I enjoyed Ted Morrison's article "On the Road". One item I would like to point out is while reading the hotel emergency information is a good idea, you would not be satisfied if all your workforce did was ONLY read your company safety manual. So next time you are in a hotel (and every time afterwards) run a drill. Practice getting out of your room and knowing how many steps to the emergency exit and in what direction. Learn the alternate exit in case the first is blocked. Do this drill before you unpack and remember that your life may depend on it. Only then can you really relax and enjoy your conference. Cheers!

Steve Hodgins

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