2.6 Keep the Meeting Moving
You and your investor both place an important value upon time. For this reason,
rule number one for conducting this meeting is to start the meeting on time.
And set and stick to a closing time for the meeting too. This will show your
respect for the investor's schedule.
Meeting discussions often get off track. People tend to go off on tangents or
simply lack respect for time. Before you know it, the meeting has ended, and
you haven't accomplished any of your objectives. The result is frustration and
a feeling of waste on everybody's part. For this reason, take a proactive
stance.
Keep Everyone on Track
It can be a sticky situation when your investor goes off on a tangent. How do
you get back on topic without offending the one person you most want to impress
positively? Try to refocus your investor by asking a question that refers to
the original discussion topic. But if the tangent that your investor has taken
is informative and potentially valuable to you, let the investor talk and
listen carefully to gain as much information as you can.
Minimize Distractions
Minimizing distractions will keep the meeting moving and will avoid unnecessary
interruptions. Turn off your telephone and pager, and ask any members of your
team to do the same. If possible, ask someone outside the meeting to take
messages for everyone. Minimizing these distractions will prevent you and the
investor from losing train of thought. The fewer interruptions, the more time
you have to discuss your opportunity.
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