Small tip for improving meeting productivity

It is very rare a meeting does not involve the usage of a laptop and a presentation. I have been attending those past two years hundreds of meeting where i am always observing the same thing: we loose a few minutes each times because we need to turn on the laptop and open the right program and launch the appropriate file. Specially if you don't have a mac where turning on a computer is longer. This is critical if you want to optimize the amount of time allocated to your meeting

Here is my simple tip

Before the beginning of the meeting (for example while waiting in the lobby) turn on your laptop, open the right program and file. Put it in stand by. then go to your meeting. Take your laptop out of Stand By mode. this should take a few seconds only

The other benefit of that tip: it will make a good impression!




Technorati Tags: meeting, productivity, laptop

Comments

[Adam Benayoun]

Trivial but impressive, thanks for reminding us about the "stand by" feature we always like to forget so easily.

[Laurent]

Thanks Ouriel.

Let me share a powerpoint productivity tip, too.

If you are using Power Point, launch your presentation and press the "b" key to make the screen go black.

When you want to start making your presentation, just press the "b" key again. It's lightning fast.

This way, you won't even have to go into standby mode.

(same thing works with the "w" key, which makes the powerpoint scree go white).

Cheers,

Laurent.

[eran lagon]

Personally, I prefer starting the meetings without any presentation but rather with a conversation. If someone have a really kick-ass product he/she should be able to create the interest just by talking about it. The presentation should provide the supportive market data and product demonstration.