As a follow-up to my previous blog on meeting management, I thought it would be useful to develop a scale so you can evaluate your own MM skills and, maybe, those of your meeting leaders and colleagues. Let me know whether completing this scale was a meaningful exercise.
MEETING MANAGEMENT SKILLS (MMS)) SCALE
DIRECTIONS: Read each statement in the context of the meetings you conduct. If you do it MOST or ALL OF THE TIME, circle YES; otherwise, circle NO. Add the number of circled YESs determine your MMSE score at the bottom.
IN THE MEETINGS I CHAIR:
1. I start on time. YES NO
2. I end on time or earlier. YES NO
3. I assign times in advance for all items on the agenda. YES NO
4. I solicit agenda items and input from ALL attendees in advance. YES NO
5. I distribute reports and other materials to attendees in advance. YES NO
6. I do not permit attendees to add items at the meeting. YES NO
7. I try to schedule meetings when attendees are available. YES NO
8. I try to engage ALL participants in the discussion. YES NO
9. I do not reward attendees who arrive late by recapping what they missed. YES NO
10. I cut off or summarize discussion to keep all items within their allotted times. YES NO
11. I limit active meeting attendees to between 5 and 10. YES NO
12. I will cancel a meeting if there is no need for face-to face discussion. YES NO
13. I will schedule electronic meeting communications (e.g., Webinars, online votes) when appropriate. YES NO
14. I attain closure on every agenda item (i.e., vote, referred to committee, or tabled). YES NO
15. I give a 10-minute warning before the meeting ends to wrap up business. YES NO
Score 1 point for each circled YES. Write your total score here: _______
MEETING MANAGEMENT SKILL (MMS) CATEGORY:
13−15 High
9−12 Moderate
0−8 Low
COPYRIGHT © 2009 Ronald A. Berk, LLC
How did you score? What was your category? Was this scale useful? Did you learn anything about yourself? Did I miss any key elements of proper meeting management? Let me know your thoughts.
