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The
work being accomplished at a meeting usually implies who should
be on the guest list. But sometimes a little subtlety is called
for.
Often
it is easy to figure out who should be on the guest list for a meeting.
For example, a regular department meeting would typically include
everyone in the department; a regular project team meeting would
typically include everyone on the project team, or the subgroup
responsible for the work being discussed.
Some
meetings are intended to result in decisions, while others are intended
to generate ideas. Employees who are more junior often contribute
strong ideas to brainstorming sessions where senior staff are also
present. But the guest list for a meeting where decisions are made
typically includes more senior people and omits most junior staff.
In
constructing a guest list, carefully think about whose input is
needed, trying not to leave anyone out. Let the purpose of the meeting,
not office politics, dictate who should be there.
In
a similar vein, try to keep the guest list to a manageable number.
Don't include people for the sake of including them. Only those
who will advance the agenda need attend.
Consider
your guests' time when inviting them to a meeting. If some people
only need to attend part of the meeting, schedule a break to give
them an opportunity to make an unobtrusive exit.
Politics
and etiquette sometimes are at odds in guest lists for meetings.
If you are not invited to a meeting you think you should attend,
it probably won't serve you or the meeting well to make your way
surreptitiously onto the guest list unless your omission was an
oversight. Often it's impossible to tell, so it's best just to sit
it out.
If
you are systematically excluded from meetings you think you should
attend, it could be a signal that your career inside the organization
is at a dead end. On the other hand, if you are being invited to
more and more meetings, it can be a sign of growth. As inconvenient
as it can be to have much of your time taken up in meetings, it
can signal that your contributions are vital.
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Jo Schlegel, Editor-in-Chief
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