Read This Before Our Next Meeting

Productivity 28 comments
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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?

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28 thoughts on “Read This Before Our Next Meeting”

  1. I’ve read “Rework” by 37Signal’s founders. One of the chapters there is called “meetings are Toxic”. They explained that usually the people that summon meetings are those who need to somehow justify their role…They do it by wasting everyone’s time. They love the fact that nothing gets done after the meeting because they can summon a follow up meeting. I really loved Rework, and I think I’ll give “Read This Before Our Next Meeting” a try also…thanks. http://www.iqtell.com/blog/

    1. @HaimPekel Yes, I love the book “Rework” by the 37Signals team. They too have a great take on how meetings are destroying the productivity of our working world.

      I highly recommend that book, as well.

    2. @adycoles Hey Ady, I’m looking into this right now, will post as soon as I get an answer.

      4. @adycoles@TMNinja Glad we got this resolved. Thanks Craig for the support on this issue!

  3. I’ve read “Rework” by 37Signal’s founders. One of the chapters there is called “meetings are Toxic”. They explained that usually the people that summon meetings are those who need to somehow justify their role…They do it by wasting everyone’s time. They love the fact that nothing gets done after the meeting because they can summon a follow up meeting. I really loved Rework, and I think I’ll give “Read This Before Our Next Meeting” a try also…thanks. http://www.iqtell.com/blog/

  6. @HaimPekel Yes, I love the book “Rework” by the 37Signals team. They too have a great take on how meetings are destroying the productivity of our working world.

    I highly recommend that book, as well.

  8. @adycoles Hey Ady, I’m looking into this right now, will post as soon as I get an answer.

  10. Downloaded my free kindle edition for my ipad and super excited about reading it. The video has helped me so I can only imagine once I read the book what it will do for me. Great job Craig.. Thanks for another great post!

    1. @Traceymarykayismythang Great! I hope you like it. It is a short and quick read, but powerful.

      Just the first principle would “rock the world” of most organizations. 🙂

  11. Downloaded my free kindle edition for my ipad and super excited about reading it. The video has helped me so I can only imagine once I read the book what it will do for me. Great job Craig.. Thanks for another great post!

  12. @Traceymarykayismythang Great! I hope you like it. It is a short and quick read, but powerful.

    Just the first principle would “rock the world” of most organizations. 🙂

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  16. Awesome! Please do! I recently met with Al, and his book is a great “kick in the pants” for meetings!

  17. Awesome! Please do! I recently met with Al, and his book is a great “kick in the pants” for meetings!

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