How can I get more out of meetings?

Question:
I’m determined to be more productive this year but my days are filled with meetings. Any suggestions? E.A., Danville, CA

Answer:
Assuming you’ve pared down your meeting attendance to just the essential meetings, take steps to make your actual meeting time more productive. Make sure you know the agenda in advance as well as what is expected of you.

Before each meeting starts, think through what your position is on the meeting topic or what you want out of the meeting. What questions do you have, or what questions do you think will be asked of you? What information do you need to gather or have handy for a productive conversation? Doing “pre-work” not only makes your meeting time more effective, it helps you manage others’ perceptions of you.