Elise Keith

Overview

How to Fix Meetings by Elise Keith:

 

In her book "How to Fix Meetings," Elise Keith takes an insightful look at the common problems that plague meetings and offers practical solutions to make them more effective and efficient. As the CEO and co-founder of Lucid Meetings, a company that helps organizations transform their meeting culture, Keith draws from her extensive experience to provide readers with strategies to elevate the quality of their meetings.

 

Key Points / Ideas

1. Understand the purpose and structure of meetings:

Keith emphasizes the importance of clearly defining the purpose of a meeting and structuring it accordingly. She argues that meetings often fail when they lack a clear focus or agenda, leading to wasted time and frustration. The author highlights the need for agenda-driven meetings that provide a framework for productive discussions.

2. Foster inclusive and engaging participation:

To create an inclusive meeting environment, Keith recommends setting ground rules that encourage everyone to contribute and engage. She advocates for open dialogue, active listening, and leveraging different perspectives. By fostering participation, meetings can become collaborative spaces that generate innovative ideas and solutions.

3. Manage meeting dynamics effectively:

Keith provides strategies for managing meeting dynamics, such as dealing with dominant personalities and addressing conflict. She suggests techniques to guide discussions, facilitate decision-making, and keep conversations on track. The author emphasizes the importance of clear roles and responsibilities to maintain accountability and avoid chaos during meetings.

4. Use technology to enhance meetings:

In the digital age, Keith acknowledges the role of technology in improving meetings. She offers insights into various tools and platforms that can enhance communication, collaboration, and information sharing during meetings. The author highlights the importance of selecting the right technology for specific meeting needs.

 

Evidence and Examples

Throughout the book, Keith supports her arguments with real-life examples and evidence:

1. The deadly sins of meetings: Keith provides examples of common meeting traps, such as lack of preparation and failure to follow up, which hinder productivity and effectiveness. These examples help readers identify and avoid these pitfalls.

2. Meeting agenda templates: The author shares sample meeting agenda templates that readers can adapt to their specific needs. These templates illustrate how a well-structured agenda can create focus, clarify objectives, and improve meeting outcomes.

3. Facilitation techniques: Keith shares practical techniques for facilitating meetings, including brainstorming exercises, decision-making frameworks, and conflict resolution strategies. These examples provide readers with actionable strategies for effectively managing meeting dynamics.

 

Conclusion

In "How to Fix Meetings," Elise Keith presents a comprehensive guide to transform meetings into valuable and productive experiences. By addressing the core issues that hamper meeting effectiveness, the book equips readers with practical strategies and techniques to improve their meetings. Keith's emphasis on purposeful structure, inclusive participation, effective management, and technological integration provides a holistic approach to fixing meetings.

 

Readers who seek to enhance their meeting culture and dynamics will find "How to Fix Meetings" a valuable resource. The book's blend of insights, examples, and actionable strategies makes it accessible to a wide range of readers, from professionals seeking to optimize their organizational meetings to individuals looking to run more effective personal meetings. For those interested in further readings on the topic, books like "The Effective Executive" by Peter Drucker and "Great Meetings! Great Results!" by Dee Kelsey and Pam Plumb offer complementary perspectives on improving meeting efficiency and effectiveness.