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7 ways ways to manage your meetings effectively

  • by MMS
  • •
  • 29 Nov, 2022
  • •
Before a meeting, you should prepare for it. This is not the time to think about long-term strategic plans or issues that will require urgent attention at a later date. It's good to do your homework beforehand but once you're in the meeting room, it's time to just
concentrate on the meeting and your job.

Here are a few tips on how to better manage your meetings:

Be Prepared
When you're walking in for a meeting, know what you're going to say. Plan some questions to ask and let everyone know who you are and your role. Check the agenda and decide what you'll say before you get to the meeting room.

Set a Clear Agenda
Know what you're going to talk about and what topics will be covered. A good agenda will guide you to the content of the meeting. When you're prepared, you'll have a better chance of achieving a productive outcome. It's also good to be realistic about the time you have and decide how much you can spend on your agenda. Try to get enough to show everyone that you've listened to their contributions.

Build on Trust
You're entering the meeting room at the beginning of a mutually beneficial relationship. Build on that, and don't waste time in meetings when you need to work on your commitments. Hold back if you need to and don't waste time asking questions that you could be asking after the meeting. Focus on your meeting and don't stop and get confused when you're asked a question. Smile and be positive.

Communicate Effectively
This is a tough one! Don't be too guarded, don't overshare, and don't over-complicate issues. And remember the principle of feedback, if you don't think that something is working, think about how you can improve it before you go into the next meeting. Your communication in a meeting room is key to how effective you will be.

Be a lifelong learner
Ensure that you're always aware of what's working and what needs improving. You should be ready to learn from mistakes and bad times as much as from success. When you know what to expect you're more likely to achieve what you want from meetings and conversations, even if that's just getting out of them on time.

Maintain your energy and time
You need to be energetic in a meeting room. Don't feel frazzled if you're asked questions you don't know the answer to and don't complain if you have to do more work than you'd originally thought. Always try to eat something before the meeting and maintain your time in the meeting. Your energy, enthusiasm, and commitment will be your greatest asset.

Keep It Business
Avoid dramatic stories, intimate details or personal stories that could get back to your boss. It's best to keep things professional at all times. This will let your colleagues know that you're there to do the job, and not there to get into other people's personal lives or careers. It must be possible for everyone to contribute in a calm and professional manner.

These are a few tips that will help you to become an excellent conversationalist, avoid being overexcited and ensure you stay on top of your brief. If you prepare well, think in the big picture and maintain your energy and attention, you will make an impact and make some great friendships along the way. Feel free to contact us any time when you are considering hiring your a meeting room for your next meeting.

Have you ever been bored in a meeting? How did you cope? Share your tips for making a memorable presentation in the comments section below! 

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7 Important tips you should consider when viewing your training venue

by MMS • 19 Dec, 2022

Training venues serve as an essential element in the success of any training program or event. It is crucial to view a training venue before you hire it to ensure that it meets your needs and requirements. Here are some reasons why it is important to view a training venue before you hire it:

Here are some tips for viewing a training venue before making a booking:

  1. Determine your needs: Before you start looking at venues, it's important to consider what you need from the space. This includes the size of the venue, the layout, the amenities, and any special requirements you may have.

  2. Take a tour: It's always a good idea to visit the venue in person to get a feel for the space. This will allow you to see the layout and amenities, and ask any questions you may have.

  3. Check the location: Consider the location of the venue and how easily accessible it is for attendees. Is it located near public transportation or is there ample parking?

  4. Consider the cost: Make sure to compare the cost of the venue to other options and ensure that it fits within your budget.

  5. Ask about setup and breakdown: If you'll be setting up and breaking down your own event, make sure to ask about the logistics of doing so at the venue.

  6. Get references: If possible, try to get references or reviews from other organizations or individuals who have used the venue. This can give you a sense of the venue's reliability and reputation.

  7. Make sure there are contingency plans: It's always a good idea to have backup plans in case something goes wrong. Ask about the venue's contingency plans for emergencies, power outages, or other issues that may arise.

We're always available for viewings, you can also request a video call viewing if you aren't able to physically make it to us, just give us a message or a call and we'll organise it.

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by Chikere Anyanwu • 29 Nov, 2022
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How to get best value from your meeting room

by MMS • 29 Nov, 2022
Meeting rooms are an essential element of a business strategy, and there are countless ways to approach a meeting room's design. But the conversation about how to determine the best value of a meeting room has been growing increasingly louder.

But there are a few things that need to be considered before booking a meeting room.

Conferencing equipment

First of all, you need to decide how you want to use the meeting room, for example, if it is to be used for video conferencing or not, are you using it for training or presentations, and what is the intention of the event. It is best to do this earlier in the booking process so that you can either make your decision early on or give yourself some flexibility.

Schedule

The most important thing is to factor in your usual meetings as you’re arranging them. Perhaps you have a regular team meeting, once a week, or twice a month. However, you don’t want the room to be booked out for this very often, instead use it for any meeting that will require a larger than usual space, for example, giving a presentation to group of senior directors or investors, holding a meeting with a prospective client or
investor, a training event for your marketing team or a training session for your sales team. Always consider your schedule before booking a meeting room. For instance If it's a long-term booking you can hire your meeting rooms from us at a discounted rate.

Location

You might not think of a conference room as being very important in the architecture of the building. But there is a lot of research that goes into deciding on the best location for each conference room and how you can best use the space to the best effect. For example central London can be extremely expensive - the best bet is somewhere just outside of it but has simple transport links to get to.

Capacity

Like the type of meeting room you require, you also need to look at the number of people it will accommodate. Will it be for 10 people, 20 people, 100 people, or more? This will influence the price and often the room is available on a first come first serve basis.

Room hire price

Consider price not only on a monthly basis but also on a yearly basis. These tend to be significantly cheaper over the longer term. But it is important to factor in the cost of hiring a meeting room and possible change fees. Go for a cost effective option for the longest term and budget for any change fees that may come with the bookings.

All these things should be taken into consideration when you are planning to hire and book a meeting room for your next training session.

Hope you have found this useful!

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