Business meetings are great forums for team members to become acquainted with new material, and to encourage cooperation between employees and supervisors. However, when business meetings aren’t structured, they can become tangential and ineffective. Learning to run effective business meetings is imperative for a successful business, and can be accomplished with a few easy tips:
- Have a Plan. One of the most important elements of an effective business meeting is to come prepared with the most important issues to be covered. A loose outline can serve to guide the conversation and to steer the meeting back on course to prevent tangents.
- Use Media. Meetings that are effective and remembered include more than one type of communication, especially a combination of visual and verbal. Keep your employees engaged by including visuals to accompany your instructions.
- Encourage Participation. When employees have a voice in business meetings, they not only feel included but are also able to add new ideas and perspective that can improve the company as a whole.
- Provide Materials Before Hand. Discussion-based meetings are especially effective, but they can only take place if there is something to discuss. Giving employees useful materials before the meeting can help them feel informed and provide useful input.
- Summarize at the End of the Meeting. As the business meeting comes to a close, make sure to briefly sum up the key points so your employees can leave with an idea of how to use the new information.
Holding regular business meetings encourages employees to continually improve and participate in the discussion. So remember to follow these guidelines, and you will see the difference an effective meeting can make.
Conducting an Effective Business Meeting
Traveling in general can wear you out, even more so when you are traveling for work. Here are the top five tips to survive your next business trip.
Planning
Plan for one week and no longer. You can wash and reuse outfits overtime if necessary. Luggage fees can be expensive, so fitting it all into one carry-on is crucial.
Routine
Remember to try and maintain your daily routine as much as possible. Eating and sleeping at normal times will help your body relax and feel at home even when it is not.
Airports
Pack your liquids safely and remember the limits airport security has outlined. Throw away any water bottles before going through security but be sure to buy more afterwards. People tend to avoid drinking water during trips so they do not have to use the bathroom, but the recycled air in the plane is extremely dry.
Planes
This recycled air and close proximity to others on the plane is another reason why people tend to get sick on trips. If your business cannot afford business or first class seating, it is crucial that you buy products such as Airborne to prevent catching a cold or something worse on your trips.
Unpacking
As soon as you arrive at your destination, be sure to unpack everything. It will make you feel like you are more at home and will focus you on your task at hand.
Wherever you go, do not let your new environment affect you negatively. Make sure to get plenty of sleep and exercise and not to overeat, and you will be able to survive your next business trip with ease.
How to Survive a Business Trip
Whether it is a wedding reception, family reunion, charity fundraiser, or corporate presentation or retreat, planning and paying for a large-scale event can be a difficult task. One of the most difficult aspects to planning a well-organized and successful event is making sure the costs for the event fall within the proposed or set budget.
Because it can be difficult to include all of the niceties and frills of a pleasant event within the constraints of a tight budget, those who are involved in planning such an event may wish to consider the following few suggestions on how to save money on large-scale events:
- Location, Location, Location. This old and accurate adage for business can be applied here as well. A person or organization that is planning a large event should consider, and reconsider, their options for the location of the event as this can often be one of the biggest expenses. City parks (if the weather is good), public buildings, and hotels are all great places to start a search for an affordable and elegant location.
- Garner Volunteers. Setting up, taking down, and providing for the various services of the event can run up quite the tab if these services are hired out. One should look, instead, for volunteers who would be willing to help out or initiate an inner company promotion to garner the free labor.
- Save on Invitations. Formal invitations may be socially required for some large-scale events, but if these are not deemed necessary an individual or organization can save precious bucks by opting for more social ways of inviting, i.e. social media or word of mouth invites.
- Use Electronics Wherever Possible. From handouts to guest books, electronic documents and reproductions can be far less costly than printing each informative packet or cutesy favor in hardcopy.
Try these suggestions when planning your next big event and you will be sure to save money and meet your designated budget.
How to Plan an Event on a Budget
New York City, the Big Apple, has long been known for its fast-paced city lifestyle and larger than life elegance, luxury, and extravagance. Combining both into one gigantic display of lavishness and city living is the Ty Warner Penthouse at the Four Seasons New York hotel in New York City.
This penthouse hotel room sits atop the Four Seasons hotel in New York and offers a 360 degree view of the sprawling borough of Manhattan. Covering the entire 52nd floor of the hotel, the Ty Warner Penthouse suite has the praiseworthy distinction of being the most expensive hotel room in the world.
Beyond the spectacular view offered by the penthouse suit, visitors to the room can be lavishly treated to the best in the business. The Ty Warner suit sports vaulted cathedral ceilings that roof the 9 rooms and 4,300 square feet that compile the suite.
Along with that master bedroom that doubles as an entire wing of the suit, residence enjoy an in-room spa center, library, grand piano, gold-infused silk bed canopy with a Swedish hand-made mattress, and living/sitting room with throw pillows crafted from eighteenth century Chinese fabrics. The lavish adornments of the room are complemented by the complementary services of a personal butler, chauffeur, and personal trainer, not to mention the caviar and champagne.
So how much is it per night to stay in this dream land of a hotel suit? Forty five thousand dollars (that’s $45,000 just in case seeing the number helps fathom the cost). However, no need to stay in the world’s most expensive hotel room to feel special. Come stay with us at Hotel Zero Degrees, and we’ll do all we can to make your stay as luxurious and perfect as possible.
Life is Suite
So you are out of ideas on where to travel this year? Search no more! Connecticut is here and has been here for longer than scientists would like to guess. If you are convinced that Connecticut just isn’t right for you then take a second look. Here are some things that may just steal your heart away.
Gamblers Escape
That’s right, you can try your luck any day of the week at two of the largest casinos in America. Most people think Las Vegas is where its at but people in Connecticut know the truth. If gambling leaves a nasty taste in your mouth then try out some of the more than palatable fine dining in the casino. There are also hundreds of event going on like concerts, shows and all sorts of entertainment.
Mystic Seaport
This quaint coastal area brings to life history with its famous maritime museum, historic ships, and 19thcentury coastal villages with all sorts of exhibits and attractions. You could even hitch a ride on a steam boat and get a real picture of what America used to be like.
Beachers Haven
Hammonasset Beach State Park is the largest in the state and offers warm current with gorgeous beach front that attracts millions of tourists each year. Why not relax and enjoy some waves while camping seaside for a few days?
Norwalk
If you are feeling like the rest of the “upper-crust” and you want to see the finer things in life, then head on down to Norwalk and see the old Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum. This 62 room mansion is considered one of the oldest and most prestigious country homes in the US. Don’t let this amazing experience pass you by.
Keep your eyes open because there are hundreds and hundreds of adventures to be had in the gorgeous and unique state of Connecticut.