Natural Order Development

From on high a message came down at my place of work that meetings were not being dealt with well. The message included a complete description of "Meeting Etiquette" and a stern warning that we needed to "follow some protocols when it comes to business meetings."

So what to do? Well here are some things to ponder and suggestions from some respectable sources that offer the same advise I have for years (only better):

First I highly recommend you read Merlin Mann's article Cranking. It says nothing to do with meetings, but it has everything to do with meetings. Warning it might significantly shift your perception and view points around the importance or priority of work and by association business meetings.

1. Merlin Mann's essay Cranking: http://www.43folders.com/2011/04/22/cranking

Next up should be Ethan's article on vampire meetings, which is very interesting.

2. Ethan's Avoiding Vampire Meetings: http://www.blackrimglasses.com/2006/02/13/avoiding-vampire-meetings/

Of course Merlin Mann has a follow on with his own take on office meetings (which also references Ethan's Avoiding Vampire Meetings article).

3. Merlin Mann's follow-up and thoughts on meetings titled Running More Productive Meetings: http://www.43folders.com/2006/02/21/meetings

Not that I swear by everything Merlin Mann says or advocates, but more because he presents a number of possibilities in such a memorable and understandable way is Merlin Mann's video presentation to Twitter on Broken meetings.

4. Merlin Mann's presentation on Broken Meetings to Twitter: http://www.43folders.com/2010/10/06/broken-meetings