8 Steps To A Successful Meeting

Pre-plan your journey
Many meetings are held within a certain radius of the office which falls on familiar territory, but when you are travelling further afield make sure you have plotted your journey in advance.  Don’t take a chance on missing a train or flight because you didn’t allow enough time to travel the distance.  For every hour that you are travelling by car add an extra 15 minutes onto your travel time to allow for delays.  Better to be hanging around for half an hour waiting for your meeting to start than arriving half an hour after it began!!

Check out the weather
Extreme weather is almost commonplace now, so take the time to see a weather forecast the day before you travel.  In icy and foggy conditions there are more likely to be accidents, in extremely hot weather cars overheat and in torrential rain low lying roads may flood.  But aside from that, think about yourself, how should you dress to be most comfortable? Hot and sweaty or shivering with cold won’t help you focus on the meeting.  And don’t forget the raincoat unless you want to sit in a meeting while soaked to the skin.

Know where you’re going
Take the time to write down the full address and contact information for the person you are visiting.  Technology lets us down at the most inconvenient moments, and phones and satnavs are reliant on satellites and signals.

Take an extra pen
It may seem obvious, but it happens all too often.  If your pen runs out of ink do you have a spare?  Make sure you have plenty of space in your notebook too, and an extra battery for your laptop.

Take a snack
Is there anything more embarrassing than a grumbly tummy during a meeting?  If you expect a meeting to run past your usual eating time then grab a snack before you go in, or better yet, take a snack for everyone, just a packet of biscuits or a cake can make a great impression.

Business cards
Always take plenty of business cards to any meeting, you never know who might want one, and it is so easy to forget to stock up before you go.

Dress to impress
Take the time to iron your shirt and polish your shoes.  That chunky bracelet may look fantastic with your outfit, but how annoying will it become when clattering on a table every time you move?  It is the small attention to detail that can make a difference.

Eating before meeting
Choose your pre-meeting meal carefully, there is nothing more off-putting than sitting across from someone breathing onion or garlic at you.  Remember; you only get one chance to make a first impression, and bad breath is a deal breaker!

If you've got any top tips for a successful meeting and want to share please write them in the comments below.