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Today, so many of us work in teams – cross-functional teams, global teams, teams with a short-term task and focus to traditional teams that are together for the long-haul.  Teams spend time in regular meeting.  Those meetings, when attended by people who come prepared and participate fully, facilitate the team’s work and ultimate success.  When participants are poorly prepared and don’t give their best, the meetings often prove to be a waste of time.

If you’re a meeting attendee, remember, you play a big role in making the meeting a success.  Here’s a checklist you can use to guide your participation:

• As you prepare, clarify your role in the meeting – what contribution is expected of you, as well as the contribution you want to make.
• Review all communication sent to you well in advance of the meeting.
• If you have documents and data to share, provide it well in advance of the meeting and explain its relevance.
• Arrive on time for the meeting.
• Make sure your contributions are constructive and fit within the allotted time.
• Agree to what’s within your power and right to decide.
• After the meeting, follow-through on all commitments.
• Share meeting outcomes with those who would benefit from an update on agreements and actions.

Up your value as a good teammate by doing your part to make the best use of resources – time, energy and money – all of which contribute to the effectiveness of your team and your organization’s long-term viability.