Too many meetings.

Too many meetings with too many people.

Too many meetings where nothing is accomplished.

Sometimes, it seems like we spend more time in meetings than actually doing our work.

Today, I want to tell you about a new book called, Read This Before Our Next Meeting.

It might just change the way you view your meetings. It did for me.

Read This Before Our Next Meeting

Meetings. They are the bane of the corporate world.

I have written about them before. Why your meetings aren’t working. How to cut meeting times in half. Even why you shouldn’t go to that meeting.

I recently read a great book by Al Pittampalli that will change the way you approach your meetings.

It is called, Read This Before Our Next Meeting.

In his book, Al describes many of the common problems that meetings cause in corporate environments:

- How Meetings Water Down Decisions

- Ways Meetings Are Used As Procrastination

- Why We Have Too Many Meetings

He then proposes 7 principles for what he appropriately calls, “The Modern Meeting.”

If most companies implemented even the first of his principles, it would dramatically change the way companies operate today.

Principle #1 – “Meet only to support a decision that has already been made.”

When, I first read this, I panicked. Then as it sank it, I realized it was brilliant.

How many meetings have you been to where the organizer calls everyone together so that he or she does not have to make a decision?

To get the full picture you will have to read Al’s book, but he what describes is that the individual calling the meeting is responsible for making the decision prior to the meeting. Then the team can come together to debate, agree, or disagree. However, time is not wasted aimlessly discussing it in committee.

To get more insight into Al’s book, watch this short video interview.

If you are having issues view the video, you can click here to watch on YouTube.

Get the Book

I really enjoyed Al’s book. It is a short and quick read that will change the way you look at meetings.

Be warned: You may not be able to sit through a traditional meeting again after reading Al’s principles.

Al’s book is available exclusively from Amazon in hard copy, Kindle and audio book formats.

You can get it here. (affiliate link)

BONUS: For the next week, the Kindle edition is FREE. Thanks to a generous sponsorship by Citrix, from August 3-9, you can download the Kindle version free of charge. Get the Kindle edition here.

What would you change about the way that your organization holds meetings?