Effective meetings – phone free. Rapidly changing business world, where every minute counts, it’s worth considering the role that mobile devices play in the context of professional meetings. Can using a mobile phone reduce the quality of a business meeting? One basic gesture to adopt during meetings is to put away the phone! As you know, I regularly delve into areas related to Lean Management and organizational culture support. I warmly encourage you to focus on the meetings you organize.
Issues Arising from Distraction
Lack of attention leads to a lot of waste in further steps including:
- Unnecessary processing (lack of data from the meeting – additional emails)
- Unnecessary movement (walking around and asking questions – lack of full info)
- Waiting for something… (e.g., events that we believe have been communicated and understood by the meeting participants)
Best Practices in Organizing Meetings
When organizing meetings, let’s consider three important points:
- Respect the time and attention of other participants: When we put away our phones, we clearly communicate our full attention. This fosters effective communication and increases the possibility of establishing further relationships and effective information exchange.
- Demonstrate professionalism and commitment: We show that we are fully engaged in the meeting and prioritize cooperation. This builds reputation, trust, and increases the value of our business interactions.
- Strengthen the relationship with the client: When we devote attention to our business partners, we create lasting bonds and give them a sense that they are important to us. This can lead to better negotiations, greater loyalty, and potentially… a reduction in costs.
The Key to More Effective Meetings
Effective meetings – phone free. Sometimes, putting away the phone during a meeting can bring significant benefits. In the digital age, where everyone is constantly connected, it’s worth reminding ourselves of the importance of full engagement and concentration on the task at hand. By minimizing distractions, we can not only improve the quality of our business meetings but also build stronger, more productive business relationships.
As a Lean philosophy enthusiast and change leader focused on data, not opinions, I specialize in identifying process waste, guiding leaders through change, and improving team communication. I prioritize employee well-being, believing it aligns with business goals. My hands-on approach in business transformations and PDCA experiments follows the #gotosee principle. If you're seeking practical, impactful change, feel free to contact me.
