Short and Sweet

This post better be short, or you may call me a hypocrite!

One of the biggest mistakes in a presentation or company meeting is length.  Meetings need to be short and sweet.

Let's say it is a safety meeting, a company policy meeting, or any informational type of meeting, where those in attendance are mainly just listening.  Research has shown that the first 15 minutes keep people's attention.  Then, the numbers drop dramatically.

You may say "But wait.  We call a meeting and we have a lot to cover.  We have to make sure we cover it all thoroughly."

I understand your line of thinking, but let me ask you this question:  Would you rather have people listen and understand what you can convey in 15 minutes, or not listen to what you convey in one hour?

If you do have a lot to cover, let me suggest a middle-ground idea.  Keep your meeting short, but supplement it with a handout of some of the more lengthy details.  Let people know you'll be available after the meeting if they need clarification on the details.  

One final note:  Brainstorming meetings or collaboration meetings are a little different.  They can be longer because they involve the active participation of the participants.