Kolz Blog

If you have an agenda use it. Sounds like a statement that should actually be, "If a meeting has an agenda, follow it, *pause* Duh". Yes, this seems like a no brainer. Yes having an agenda is obvious. Yet, executives I talk to say they would be delighted if all meetings did have an agenda and if it was followed when they do. The post from earlier this year addresses making meeting shorter is where the suggestion for having an agenda first appeared on the Productivity Cafe. Today's article is about bringing the meeting back on track when the agenda seems to be left behind as conversation flows to non-agenda topics. Here are some transition lines that you can use to leave the time-wasting rabbit trail and get back on the main track.

• We seem to be off the agenda at the moment. What you're talking about is important and it should be the topic of a separate meeting. Let's get back to the point where we got off the agenda. We were on item # 4…. (then pick up back on the agenda item).
• That discussion seems to involve just the two of you. Let's take advantage of everyone being together and get back to the topics on the agenda that concern everyone. Would you two take that off-line and summarize your conclusions in an email?
• We are taking a bit too much time on this topic if we're going to wrap the meeting up by 11:30.

If anyone has something they feel compelled to add, please take a few seconds to do so now. Then, we're going to move on.

You guys are making me crazy with all this technical detail – I thought we were going to discuss the topic from a higher level. Am I missing something? (ok, this one is really to see if you've read this far)

Excuse me, I seem to have lost my place following the conversation and seeing how it meshes with the agenda. So that I can stay with the program, would you help me make that connection.? [This is particularly useful if you're a participant and not the facilitator.]

If the group is going off on a social conversation, "Are we all set? I'd like to get back to my office and return a few phone calls before lunch if I'm not needed any longer." Warning: your tone of voice and delivery are key to protecting your reputation and gaining cooperation from the others. These are easier to deliver when it's your meeting – you are supposed to be in control when you called the meeting.