At one time or another, we have all opened our email, only to find a meeting invite and think (fill in the bad word of your choice) Different organizations communicate and collaborate in different ways, depending on the message, decision, or topic at hand. Under certain circumstances, a virtual or physical meeting may be the best vehicle for making a decision or collaborating on a common objective. While most meetings strive to be well-controlled, brief, and focused on facilitating a set of actions, this does not always happen. Here are some simple and effective ways to ensure that a meeting is a success: · Establish and communicate a clear agenda in advance. This will allow people to prepare properly and will help the facilitator prevent his or her meeting from being hijacked by one of the attendees. · Most organizations have a governing set of rules for participation in a meeting. No biting, scratching, spitting, or name-calling is encouraged.