Have you ever asked a question that saved you money?

Here's an example that could help with your business.

When we bought new windows for our home one of the technicians cracked five of the tiles on our roof. I called the company that installed the roof a few years earlier and their representative told me that it would cost about $150 to replace the broken tiles.

Then I called the window company to ask them to pay for the repairs. Their representative told me that they would send a man over to fix the tiles instead.

That seemed reasonable.

And to make sure this would work, I asked, "Does he know how to walk across a tile roof without breaking tiles?"

She agreed to check. A minute later she called back and said, "Have the roofing company repair the tiles."

So, what's the point?

First, we always benefit from asking questions. If I had let the window company send someone, I could have ended up with more broken tiles.

And second, when results matter, its worth having an expert do the job.

In this case, the professional roofer took only a couple of minutes to replace the broken tiles. And the roofer did something extra: he patched holes in the tarpaper that had been caused by the broken tiles.

So, the job was done quickly and done properly.

There is a parallel here that applies to meetings.

Many people think that they know how to lead an effective meeting. And for routine issues they may obtain workable results. But these meetings take too long and they often miss important things.

And all of that costs money.

How?

Inefficient meetings waste valuable payroll dollars; missed opportunities never make money; and bad meetings cause problems that lose money.

Fortunately, conducting an effective meeting is not like repairing a roof.

Since you hold many meetings, it pays to learn how. You'll earn back the cost of a workshop by holding only two or three effective meetings. And you'll gain control of a business activity that determines the future of your company.

For those special cases where the meeting deals with complex issues or where you want to participate (instead of lead), you can always hire an expert.

Steve Kaye

Steve Kaye helps leaders hold effective meetings. He is an Certified Professional Facilitator (with the International Association of Facilitators), author, and speaker.

Since 1992 his innovative workshops have informed and inspired people nationwide. Clients include Avery Dennison, IBM, and Unocal.

His workshop topics include:

* One Great Meeting - How to plan and conduct meetings that produce results others will support

* The Human Side of Communication - How to win trust, earn respect, and establish rapport

* Winning Words - How to design and deliver presentations that inspire and impress people

* Behavior Styles - How to get along with others

As a meeting facilitator, he helps people obtain results that they could not obtain by working on their own. Read about examples on his web site.

He is the author of:

* The Manager's Pocket Guide to Effective Meetings

* Meetings in an Hour or Less

* 117 Tips for Effective Meetings

With a Ph.D. in chemical engineering and 20 years of experience working for major corporations, Steve specializes in working with engineers, scientists, and high tech professionals.

Call 714-528-1300 or visit his web site for over 130 pages of information (including program details, client guides, FAQs, cartoons, and more).