Stress Less in Meetings

 

Many companies are finally facing the increased stress levels in their organizations. Some hire directors of stress management, while others offer stress breaks, fun days and even onsite pool tables, chair massages and dogs (yes, I said dogs). Most of us don't work for these companies, but even if yours is one of the enlightened corporations (realizing that stress control helps the bottom line), you can still count on high stress levels during some project meetings.

Here are several steps you can take to reduce stress before, during and after your next project meeting.

The Big Picture
Before you begin planning your next meeting, ask yourself whether you have the self-management and meeting-management fundamentals in place.

Take a personal stress inventory. If you are worried, anxious, tense, wound up and generally stressed-out, you can't expect any meeting you are engaged in to be a sudden island of peace. Deal with your overall stress level first. Here are two sites that offer excellent resources and free e-mailed stress tips: http://relaxintuit.com and http://stresstips.com.

Use common meeting wisdom. A poorly planned meeting with the wrong people invited will not magically become a haven of organized, peaceful efficiency if you burn scented candles. Your investment of less than $20 and the effort to learn and employ a few basic meeting-planning techniques will go a very …

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