Tips on... Getting the most from meetings

Meetings are an inevitable reality of professional life. They are a necessary part of multidisciplinary patient care and may often take up valuable clinical time. They may range from being productive and stimulating to very boring and hypnotic. Here are some tips on how you can use them to your advantage:

Send apologies

It may seem like there is an endless number of meetings. Prioritise them and miss the unimportant ones.

Shared responsibility

Meetings are a good place to make difficult and uncomfortable decisions. If you are unsure of something, always take it to a meeting. Don't forget to put the item on the agenda beforehand.

What's in it for me?

Always attend meetings knowing what you want to achieve from it. You can learn a lot (and have fun) from observing other participants and their interactions with one another.

Preparation is vital

You will be surprised how often people are unprepared for meetings. If you want to contribute something worthwhile, a little preparation is essential. It is especially important if you are representing someone at a meeting.

If you want to be heard....

Know when to interrupt, but don't wait for permission. Handle criticism without showing undue emotions. If you are up against opposition, try to determine your opponent's objectives. If you disagree with someone, make criticism less personal, for example, by claiming you are being the 'devil's advocate'. Don't waste others' time by continuing an arguments that have already been decided.

Finally...

When you are stuck, it is less stressful to share a problem with colleagues than to sort it out by yourself.

Kallur Suresh, Specialist Registrar in Psychiatry, Elderly Mental Health, Mile End Hospital, London E1 4DG


studentBMJ 2001;09:443-486 December ISSN 0966-6494