Make Meetings Matter (Ignite Reads)

Make Meetings Matter in the media:
Six Ways To Have Effective And Successful Meetings - Forbes

Meetings should matter.

No one wants to be called in for a meeting that could’ve been an email. No one wants to sit in a meeting where everyone’s distracted or talking over each other. If you’re going to attend or lead a meeting, don’t you want it to…well, matter?

Meetings are a chance to initiate a conversation with your teammates. You can communicate information with them that wouldn’t have the same hold digitally. You can foster new relationships with your coworkers, and learn from their new ideas and perspectives. So why do so many people dread meetings? Because they’re doing them all wrong.

Change the way people think about meetings. Transform their opinions by holding a meeting that is efficient and productive, that is open and communicative, that is useful and important. Revolutionize the definition of a meeting. Learn to make them matter.

Author Paul Axtell affirms the importance of meetings, and he redesigns them using the vital foundation of conversation. With real-life examples and actionable advice, he shows you how to design meetings for results, lead them to achieve agendas that move projects forward, and even allow time for building the relationships that make working together in a remarkable way possible. Based on his award winning efficiency training, this book will revolutionize the meeting--moving it from that dreaded obligation to a powerful way to get things done in business and in life.

Read positive quotes for motivation, inspiration, and success from Make Meetings Matter, here. Need helping implementing the changes from the book? Try Change is Good...You Go First!

All Ignite Reads titles are part of the Simple Truths Elite Club membership. Learn more here>>

Quotes from Make Meetings Matter:

“Treat everything as though it matters and give your full attention to whatever you are doing and to whomever you are with right now.” -Paul Axtell

“People are willing to be expressive and vulnerable if they sense that we are listening in an attentive way.” -Paul Axtell

“Reassuring someone isn't listening. Trying to solve the problem isn't listening. Just listening is listening.” -Paul Axtell

“The effectiveness of any meeting is determined by the quality of the relationships among the people who walk into the room.” -Paul Axtell

“Each person's life is lived as a series of conversations.” -Deborah Tannen

“The conversation is the relationship.” -David Whyte

“When you go to meetings or auditions and you fail to prepare, prepare to fail. It's simple but true.” -Paula Abdul

Read a FREE excerpt from Make Meetings Matter.

FREE Discussion Guide

Try using Make Meetings Matter as part of your next training event, team meeting or book club! Our free discussion guide is the perfect companion to the book, and will help you get the most out of your event. Included are discussion points and questions that will help guide your team through this book. Download the guide now!