subject: How To Be More Focused In Your Meetings [print this page] Business meetings often rely on the technological advantages of our speedy smartphones and the collective abilities of laptops to find and quickly display information. But here, technology has both its advantages and disadvantages. Everyone walks in with their laptop. Smartphones are ready to send messages, and despite the important role these items play, they also create a distraction in the meeting room.
Not that important?
This is possibly the result of short attention spans or the assumption that the meeting may be boring, but the bottom line is that when you allow your technology to distract you during a meeting, you are saying that what you are doing is more important than what is going on. This may be something as simple as texting a joke to the person across you, perhaps mentioning that youve heard this speech before, or even checking your email or social media sites that arent relevant to the meeting. In order to be successful, you have to understand that distractions have no place in business, let alone a meeting.
Unfortunately, these distractions are right there in the palm of your hand. Theyre at your fingertips as your fingers sit on your laptops keyboard. What is the appropriate usage of your technology during the meeting? There is a time and place for everything, but distractions dont belong in the meeting room.
1-When you are searching for information relevant to the meeting. These situations may pertain to a solution, data, or even a topic that needs to be addressed.
2-If you are taking notes regarding the meeting.You may be using a Word program, or even Notepad. Solitaire isnt on this list.
3-If you are utilizing your technology to demonstrate information through PowerPoint or other media. Although your phone messages may be interesting to you, it is not likely that you everyone can see a small screen very clearly. Be sure that what is on your screen provides value to the meeting.
These would be the necessary times where the use of your technology will be beneficial to the meeting. And that is the key- If what you are doing is not beneficial, or otherwise moving your meeting forward through productivity, it shouldnt be distracting you. Always keep in mind that if you were speaking, and this was your personal meeting, how youd feel if you had spent your time and effort organizing this event only to find that others were checking their email and texting jokes on their phones. Mentally put yourself in a position so that you can truly understand the value of the time spent here.
Keep in mind that this meeting is part of your schedule
That means that the time you spend here has valuable and those that you are with have invested that time with you.
Even when taking notes, it can be difficult to resist clicking on your browser and telling yourself it will only take a moment to check your messages. While laptops do provide an excellent way to record information, their other uses can often be distracting. If you have trouble resisting the urge to let your mind wander during a meeting, there are notebook systems available that provide you with a recording device, without too many distractions. Another way to remove the biggest distraction of all is to turn your wireless off. Laptops commonly use wireless internet, and during most meetings, you wont be required to use the internet unless you were searching for information of Skyping details from someone. If youre using your computer to take notes, hide your distractions from yourself.
Meetings are an investment of time. Others have invested their time with you, and youve invested your time with them. If you allow your technology to control you, or otherwise distract you, you squander and waste time. And if you are going to be successful, learn to be productive, and remove distractions from your line of sight.
