Prepare for meetings or prepare to fail, it’s a choice we can avoid.

Wait you do what for meetings? you don’t prepare for meetings, well then you might want to reconsider as an effective meeting allows you to gain answers/ directions and approval for your projects. If you not walking in ready with questions/updates or facts, then you’re not really adding your insights for others to benefit from.

As an engineer, meticulous preparation is key to ensuring productive meetings and project progression, so below are some thoughts as to what you should be thinking about before you get into a meeting, make sure you block out time the day before to prepare.

• Do you have questions?
• Do you have updates to project deadlines?
• Do you have facts around the problems being faced?
• Do you have solutions for snags?
• Do you have drawings/charts to aid your discussion points?
• Have you investigated costs for your solutions?
• If you project has drifted, have you brought a plan of action?

Personally, I rely on my trusty notebook – despite a few fingerprints on the cover, it’s my go-to tool for staying organized.

Here’s how I leverage my notes for effective meeting readiness:

• ✅ Daily Task Log: I maintain a daily log of tasks, which becomes the foundation for an action plan on the project I’m immersed in.
• ✅ Weekly Action Plan Review: Regularly, I review the action plan with my project team. Their feedback is invaluable, and I encourage them to pose any questions requiring attention.
• ✅ Team Discussion: Engaging in discussions with the team about upcoming tasks ensures that everyone is aligned on priorities.
• ✅ Question Preparation: Before meetings, I prepare relevant questions to steer discussions and keep them focused.
• ✅ Issue Highlighting: I use the platform of meetings to bring attention to any challenges I’m facing, seeking collaborative solutions from the team.

Make sure you take notes within the meetings as to what has been said and agreed that’s relevant to your projects, update your action plans afterwards to reflect the changes and if needed, let you team know or update the tasks needed from them.

Meetings, to me, serve as a dynamic forum for project progression and personal development.

How do you prepare for meetings? Let’s share insights! 

---