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Starting a meeting on time is an essential part of effective communication and productivity in the workplace. It shows respect for the attendees' time, helps to keep the discussion focused, and sets the tone for the rest of the meeting. However, starting a meeting on time can be a challenge, especially if you are dealing with a large group or conflicting schedules. In this blog post, we will provide some tips and best practices for starting a meeting on time, as well as some interesting facts and references to help you understand the importance of this topic.
Tips for Starting a Meeting on Time
Here are some tips for starting a meeting on time:
Set a clear start time and end time for the meeting: Make sure that all attendees are aware of the start and end times of the meeting, and try to stick to these times as closely as possible. This will help attendees to plan their schedules and arrive on time.
Send out reminders: Send out reminders to attendees a few days before the meeting, as well as a few hours before the meeting. This will help to ensure that everyone is aware of the start time and has enough time to plan their schedules accordingly.
Set up: Make sure that the meeting room and remote set-up for hybrid meetings are ready to go before the start time of the meeting. This includes setting up any necessary equipment, such as a laptop and screen share for hybrid meetings, and making sure that the room is clean and organized.
Start the meeting on time, even if not everyone is present: If some attendees are running late, it's important to start the meeting on time rather than waiting for everyone to arrive. This will show respect for the attendees who are present and help to keep the meeting focused and efficient.
Interesting Facts and References
Here are some interesting facts and references to help you understand the importance of starting a meeting on time:
According to a survey by YouGov, 49% of employees said that meetings are the biggest waste of time in their workday (yougov.com/topics/business/articles-reports..).
A study by the Harvard Business Review found that the average worker spends 31 hours per month in meetings and that more than half of this time is considered unproductive (hbr.org/2014/08/why-most-meetings-are-a-was..).
In a survey by Doodle, 63% of respondents said that they have missed an important meeting or event because of a scheduling conflict (doodle.com/en/press/press-releases/scheduli..).
In conclusion, starting a meeting on time is an essential aspect of professional communication and productivity. By setting a clear start time and end time, sending out reminders, setting up the meeting room ahead of time, and starting the meeting on time even if not everyone is present, you can ensure that