Chopping travel time to and from meetings is also a major way to respect staff time. Conference call technology is breaking new ground by showing organizations how much time can be saved by groups of employees who work in the same city, or even in the same building, when meetings start with everyone just picking up their phone.
How do I schedule effective meetings?
Schedule meetings with adequate time to prepare. To keep the time in the meeting productive and focused, everyone will need to come prepared. They’ll need time to review the agenda, read any reports, and consider the questions they’ll ask. Meetings scheduled at least two days in advance give people time to come prepared.
How can I make my meetings more productive?
Productive meetings start on time, which becomes impossible when people lack the time needed to leave one meeting and get to the next. On days with multiple meetings, scheduling meetings to end at least 10 minutes before the start of the next meeting ensures people have time to gracefully transition.
Should you schedule an entire conference room for meetings?
Scheduling an entire conference room when only two or three people are meeting seems a bit wasteful. Use your company’s resources wisely by meeting in an alternate location instead, such as someone’s office. That allows other, larger groups to use the conference room if they need to.
How long should your meetings end?
On days with multiple meetings, scheduling meetings to end at least 10 minutes before the start of the next meeting ensures people have time to gracefully transition. This is enough time to make a quick trip to the restroom and return a few urgent messages, which makes a huge difference in everyone’s ability to focus. 4.
How do you talk to a low performing employee?
Step-by-step guide on how to talk about poor performanceCreate clear metrics of job performance.Have the right mindset.Collect 360 feedback from other team members.Have a one-to-one meeting.Use the Johari window matrix.Ask questions, listen, and understand.Collaborate on how to fix their poor performance.More items…•
How do you tell an employee they are not meeting expectations?
How to tell an employee they’re underperformingFind where expectations don’t align.Schedule a one-on-one.Ask how they think they are performing first.Give specific examples.Connect their goals to the expectations.Share the why.Be clear about expectations.Make a plan together.More items…•
How do I give my employees more time?
There are a number of ways you can support employee development: individual coaching, workshops, courses, seminars, shadowing or mentoring, or even just increasing their responsibilities. Offering these opportunities will give employees additional skills that allow them to improve their efficiency and productivity.
How much time should managers allow in their schedule for meetings?
Keep meetings under 20-minutes. It’s enough time to be taken seriously, but short enough to maintain people’s attention. It also doesn’t interfere too much with everyone’s busy schedule.
How do you deal with team members who are not meeting your standards?
The plan includes steps that anyone can follow.Ask before telling. Start by asking your employee how they think they’re doing on their goals. … Clarify non-negotiables. … Connect to the employee’s goals. … Describe specific behaviors. … Craft a plan together.
What are 2 questions you would ask when considering employee underperformance?
5 questions to ask your underperforming employeeWhat do you need right now to perform to the best of your ability? … What is the most defeating/motivating part of your job? … Are you clear on the impact of your work and how it serves the business? … How are we going to prevent similar issues from arising in the future?More items…
How do you deal with employees struggling with time management?
How to Help an Employee Who Struggles with Time ManagementAcknowledge your own emotions. … Assess your part. … Pinpoint the stress. … Communicate what you need. … Help at the start. … Appreciate progress. … Get outside support.
How do I keep my employees busy?
10 Ways to Keep Employees BusyGet organized. Cut down on clutter and messes. … Evaluate use of time. Have your employees reflect upon their day and look at all the small tasks that they do. … Project Planning. … Networking. … Cross training. … Process Improvement. … Follow up with customers. … Check in with the boss.More items…•
What are top 3 ways to improve on performance at work?
Top 3 ways to improve work performanceLimit distractions. According to Udemy In Depth: 2018 Workplace Distraction Report: … Split your tasks into milestones. … Stop multitasking, prioritize your work.
How do you stop a meeting overload?
How to Avoid Meeting Invite OverloadAsk for an agenda.Reduce the meeting duration on calendar invites.Create blocks of unavailability on a public calendar.Hold office hours.Leave after you finish speaking.Add price tags to your meetings.
How do you handle a meeting overload?
0:585:095 tips for dealing with meeting overload | The Way We Work, a …YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIsn’t an action verb. If you’re calling a meeting to review. Something send it out ahead of time andMoreIsn’t an action verb. If you’re calling a meeting to review. Something send it out ahead of time and schedule a 15-minute meeting for questions that should get joe to finally read the deck.
What a manager should stop doing?
It brought out some of the most amazing things that many subordinates would want their managers to stop doing: Stop being serious all the time, be more expressive. Stop sugar-coating feedback from the customers. Stop CCing us on too many emails.
How do you handle a subordinate whose work is not up to expectations?
How to manage underperforming employeesRecognize that there is a problem. … Conduct a meeting and ask questions to establish what causes the employee to underperform. … Reiterate job expectations. … Manage employee expectations. … Develop an action plan together. … Ensure regular check-ins and follow-ups. … Recognize progress.More items…
What is a word for not meeting expectations?
1) Substandard “deviating from or falling short of a standard or norm” – In the same vein, you could say suboptimal and subpar. 2) Wanting “not having all that is needed or expected”. Alternatively, you could use deficient, unsatisfactory. 3) Underperform “to be less successful than expected or required”.
How do you talk to employees about expectations?
Here are some steps to take to help you communicate your expectations with your team:Outline your expectations. … Explain the importance. … Put yourself in their perspective. … Consider past actions. … Meet with employees regularly. … Get a detailed commitment. … Provide helpful resources. … Check in with employees.
How do you address unmet employee performance expectations?
Three keys to employee conflict resolution related to unmet expectations:Give the person some positive input. Recognize a quality of the person such as hard work, positive attitude, excellent skills, etc.Address the issue. … Affirm the person again.
What to bring to a meeting?
6. Limit Your Food and Drinks. As a general rule, it is perfectly acceptable to bring coffee, tea and water to a meeting and sip on your drink during the meeting. Anything beyond these common beverages can cause a distraction.
What is a conference room?
The fact that it is a shared space means that you have to be cognizant of other people’s schedules and needs. In addition, there are certain rules for behavior that should be followed while you are in a conference. Fortunately, we have created a comprehensive guide to help you safely navigate proper conference room etiquette when it comes sharing a public space and how to behave during a conference.
What is good office etiquette?
In essence, good office etiquette comes down to showing respect and compassion for your colleagues. Sharing any space can cause tension and frustration, but if you are aware of how your actions affect others, then you can easily avoid any conflicts. The same goes for behavior in the conference room.
How to look like a kid in a conference chair?
Avoid leaning back in the chair or lowering the height so that you look like a little kid. Try sitting up straight towards the front edge of the seat so that you look alert and engaged in the conversation and be sure that you are on eye level with the rest of the people at the table.
Is it important to keep your phone out of sight during a conference?
While your phone might be an important business tool that you use throughout the day, it needs to be out of sight during conferences. You don’t want to be distracted or even appear to be distracted while others are speaking. Be sure to turn the sound off put it in your pocket or bag.
Can you cancel a conference room early?
The same rule applies to scheduling a conference room or canceling a booking: try to do it as early as possible. Don’t wait to the last minute to put in a request if you know you will be needing the room on a certain date.
Do meetings go longer than scheduled?
Meetings have a tendency to go longer than scheduled, but it is up to you to keep things moving and make sure that you are out of the room on time. If you are part of a busy office, chances are that the conference rooms are booked back to back throughout the day.
Why do we need a conference room?
Conference rooms are necessary spaces for large groups to meet and discuss business issues. Most are equipped with a large table, chairs, and adequate lighting at the very least. But the employees using it should respect the rules for optimal meetings, even if they are not posted. Here are 8 ways to improve meeting room etiquette at your workplace:
How to improve meeting room etiquette?
Here are 8 ways to improve meeting room etiquette at your workplace: 1. Book Early. It isn’t respectful of other people in your business to use a conference room without booking it. Even if you’re in need of it on short notice you run the risk of occupying the room too long.
What to do when you find out a meeting is not going to happen?
When you find out a previously scheduled meeting is not going to happen, cancel the meeting room immediately . It’s irksome to others to have needed the space, been unable to book it, and find out later it was available after all.
What is the rule of etiquette in a meeting?
While you’re in a meeting room with others, another major rule for etiquette is to shut cell phones off. At times, even having a phone in sight can be distracting to speakers or other attendees.
Can you chit chat after a meeting?
Sometimes employees will stand around and chit chat after a meeting has ended. It’s ok to do that, just do it outside the meeting room. By continuing to stay in the conference room you may be using someone else’s meeting time. Take your discussion elsewhere or schedule a follow-up meeting if it is needed. 8.
Voluntary Attendance
Attendance is in fact voluntary if the employee would not suffer any adverse employment action if he or she did not intend. 29 CFR 785.28 Adverse employment actions include, but are not limited to, discharge, discipline, loss of pay, denial of a wage increase, loss of promotion or other opportunity, or loss of job duties.
Conclusion
As can be seen, there is essentially a presumption that time spent by employees attending meetings, seminars, lectures, and training related to work should be counted as hours worked for purposes of minimum wage and overtime under the FLSA. However, the presumption can be overcome when the four requirements discussed above are met.
How to make a meeting productive?
To ensure the meeting is productive, there are specific rules and guidelines to follow. Inviting random people who aren’t associated with the meeting is a waste of time, both theirs and yours. Choose the right time. Schedule time for breaks. Leave time for questions.
Can you manage more than one project at a time?
Whether it may seem simple to manage more than one project at the same time, this can prove to be difficult even for experienced project managers. Besides great time management skills, they also need to develop and improve their conflict solving and leadership skills.
Is commute time compensable in FLSA?
According to the FLSA guidelines, when a nonexempt employee typically works at a fixed location each day and is given a special assignment to travel to another city for the day, all travel time that is in excess of typical commute time to and from the regular worksite should be compensated. Commute time from home to the first site is not compensable. Any travel time that takes place during normal work hours is treated as compensable work time.
Conferences can be worthwhile — just make sure they’re really worth your money
Maurie Backman is a personal finance writer who’s passionate about educating others. Her goal is to make financial topics interesting (because they often aren’t) and she believes that a healthy dose of sarcasm never hurt anyone. In her somewhat limited spare time, she enjoys playing in nature, watching hockey, and curling up with a good book.
1. What will my employees gain from the conference?
Many conferences offer solid learning opportunities for attendees, but not all are created equal. Before agreeing to send employees to a conference, figure out exactly what they plan to get out of that event.
2. What costs will I incur other than the fee for the conference itself?
Conferences cost money — that’s a known fact. But the $500 attendance fee you might be looking at isn’t necessarily the sole cost involved in sending employees. You’ll also need to factor in travel to and from that event, lodging, and meal allowances (unless food is provided at the conference itself).
3. Can I afford to have key players out of the office simultaneously?
If there’s a notable conference on the horizon, chances are, it’ll appeal to more than one employee of yours. But sending three or four people to a conference isn’t just something you’ll need to consider from a cost perspective; you’ll also need to weigh the impact on the business.
4. What networking opportunities are available?
One big reason to attend business conferences is to network and seek out new partnerships. Before sending your employees to a conference, assess its size and scope.
How to keep meetings productive and focused?
Schedule meetings with adequate time to prepare. To keep the time in the meeting productive and focused, everyone will need to come prepared. They’ll need time to review the agenda, read any reports, and consider the questions they’ll ask. Meetings scheduled at least two days in advance give people time to come prepared.
How to make a productive meeting?
3. Leave time between meetings for transitions. Productive meetings start on time, which becomes impossible when people lack the time needed to leave one meeting and get to the next. On days with multiple meetings, scheduling meetings to end at least 10 minutes before the start of the next meeting ensures people have time to gracefully transition. …
What does “too many meetings” mean?
“Too many meetings” and “Too much time wasted in unproductive meetings .” When a company struggles with low employee engagement, you will invariably find one of these complaints near the top of the list.
Why schedule meetings at natural transition times?
Schedule meetings at natural transition times to minimize task switching time. Effective scheduling improves focus during meetings, reduces task-switching costs, and increases productive focus time for other work. Task switching is the time it takes to turn your attention from one task to another and get re-focused.
How to respect everyone’s time?
Make meetings optional. Finally, the simplest way to respect everyone’s time is to respect their judgment about how to best use that time. If your team feels there are too many meetings, let them know they can opt out of any meeting they find unnecessary to their work. And, if they feel that a meeting isn’t productive, …
Why is it important to be considerate in meetings?
Perhaps more importantly, considerate leaders work to schedule meetings that minimize disruption to other work and avoid inconveniencing unnecessary attendees.
How long does task switching take?
The task-switching time penalty can drain anywhere from an extra 10 to 50 minutes from the day. Meetings held the first thing in the morning, right before a midday break, and at the end of the day align with times when work is already naturally disrupted.
How to find employees who can follow time off policies?
The best way to find employees who can follow your time-off policies is to explain them upfront during the hiring process. That way, prospective employees can figure out in advance if they can work within those requirements, and you can save time by hiring people who are the best fit for your business’s needs.
Why is it important to manage time off requests?
On the other hand, managing employee time-off requests well can help keep your employees happy, create a more positive work environment, and ultimately help your business thrive.
Why is it important to communicate with employees?
It’s important to communicate with your employees, so they understand how time-off requests work at your company. Being transparent and fair are key to maintaining morale and creating a positive work environment for everyone.
Why is it important to have clear rules?
Making clear rules can save you hours and make scheduling much easier. It’s much faster to create a weekly schedule without including absent employees than it is to try to redo a schedule and find coverage for them at the last moment. You can also decide that you need more notice for longer periods of time off.
How often can you request time off?
Communicate to employees if there are limits to how often they can request time off. If you can only grant time off twice a month (or twice a year), make sure to include that in your policy, too.
How many bartenders are needed on every shift?
Whatever you decide, it’s important to leave yourself space for managerial discretion. If you need at least one bartender on every shift and none are available to step in, granting a time-off request will leave you in a bind.
How much notice do you need to give someone for two days off?
You can also decide that you need more notice for longer periods of time off. Maybe you only need two weeks’ notice to grant someone two days off, but would prefer to have two months’ notice before approving a full week of leave. Make sure to include that, too.
