Can LMS Help Save Us From Unproductive Meetings?
The average worker spends 31 hours per month in unproductive meetings, costing U.S. companies $37 billion in wages for unnecessary meetings, according to Atlassian. LMS (Learning Management System) training can help ensure meetings at your organization are efficient and productive.
To avoid wasting time and money, managers who conduct meetings must learn how to structure and facilitate them in a productive, engaging fashion. HR leaders can make a bottom-line difference by training leaders on best practices for holding meetings. Before reserving a room for a meeting, HR leaders should consider requiring managers and other facilitators to complete LMS training programs on effective meetings.
The Importance of LMS Training
HR leaders should ensure they have an LMS or training program in place that fits the needs of their organization. Your LMS should align with your business strategy and the technologies your employees use. For instance, if your employees are more likely to access learning opportunities on the go, your LMS should be compatible with mobile devices. If you utilize a live training program, make sure you have facilitators who deeply understand your business needs and the needs of your employees. Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, your LMS training should confront the unique goals of your workforce. Once you have an appropriate training program, you can start using it to improve the meetings in your organization.
Meetings will be more efficient if organizers understand these three main components of a successful meeting.
1. Consider Who Should Attend
Meetings are more productive if they include the appropriate people. If you're presenting information that's important to an entire department, the number of attendees can be unlimited. For small meetings held regularly, consider teaching about stand up meetings.
2. Be Aware of Time
Fast Company recommends keeping meetings 15 minutes or shorter because of attention spans. And different times of day call for different types of meetings. For example, if your meeting is a brainstorming meeting or an educational gathering, mornings are the best times because that's when people tend to be most focused and productive. If it's a meeting with vendors or customers, afternoons may work best so they can handle their own work before meeting you.
3. Have an Agenda
No leader should ever go into a meeting without a written agenda. An agenda helps you set goals, stay on topic and avoid wasting time. Send the agenda to participants beforehand so everyone in the room knows what to expect. Harvard Business Review suggests listing agenda items as questions the group needs to answer.
HR leaders can provide managers with a wealth of resources for designing and facilitation effective meetings. Incorporate these components of effective meetings into LMS training. By participating in this type of training, leaders will be prepared to facilitate efficient meetings.
