Do you have too many meetings and too many unproductive meetings? One of the things I do to make meetings more fulfilling is to follow the OGASM process.

OGASM is a mnemonic which helps me to remember the 4 steps in the process. The 4 steps are GASM and the O is there to encapsulate it all . . . or O is for “organise” if you really want it to stand for something!

G - Good

A - Any

S - Something

M - Most

Nearly all of my meetings start with the question “when we get to the end of this meeting, how will we know if we’ve had a good meeting?” That allows me to understand my counterpart’s main objectives and to focus on just those elements for the main part of the meeting.

Meetings are concluded with three quick fire questions, the first of which is a double barrelled any. “Is they any-thing else I can help you with . . . is there any-body else you know who needs this sort of help?” The point of this question is to give me opportunities to sell additional services to this person or to other people in this person’s sphere of influence.

“Is there something we should have said, that we haven’t?” All meetings contain missed opportunities. There may be insufficient time left to discuss anything new in detail, but it shows your counterpart that you care and it gives you the opportunity to plan a “next step”.

“What was the most important thing that we discussed today?” Whatever I think is important, is not necessarily the same thing that you think is important. By asking this question I am able to progressively refine my meeting processes and always work on what is really important.

I benefit from the OGASM process, because my clients are acting as intelligent filters, leading me to their most important issues, and leading me to new clients . . . is there anybody else you know who needs this sort of help? Contact me!