"D4 - The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, October 25, 1995

How to get the most

out of meetings

_ (SOP) If you get the feeling
‘that you’re spending a lot of
‘time in business meetings, it’s
‘not your imagination,
‘Depending on your attitude

‘and experience with meetings,

‘that can-add up to a lot of
‘wasted time and frustration.

“But two experts say meetings’ ~~ |i

‘should be approached with
‘strategic care because they are
‘opportunities to earn career
‘points and learn valuable
‘lessons about your company.
‘deciding where to. sit can
‘increase your visibility. and
‘give you more contro! during
‘meetings.
m If you want to be noticed,
arrive early and position
‘yourself directly. across from
‘the person who will be: in
~charge of the meeting.
<The key thing is that you
want to have eye contact with
“the meeting leader. -

r Sitting directly next to the

; meeting leader also will get.

“you noticed. Some leaders use
“the - people next to them as
“FeSOUECES and will turn to
“them and ask questions. or
umake comments.
: If a high-level executive
nis running the meeting, try not
“to sit next to-your immediate

“boss. Your boss will end up
abeing acknowledged, and you.

“won't have a chance (to
=participate).
»  .Being well-prepared is
ressential to high performance
sat meetings. Experts suggest
“first getting a feel for the kind
“of meetings conducted by
“your company.
* Tell yourself that for the
‘dirst few meetings you will
“just be.an observer. It may not

“be the-role you will always ...

play but you need to learn the

2 Something as simple as’

system.
Knowing when and how
to speak up during a meeting

can be tricky. Experts suggest
’ making eye contact with the’

leader and leaning toward him
to’ attract attention before
making: your comment.
That way “you have
invaded (the - leader’s)
personal Space” and hopefully
let him know you. have. an
issue to raise. ;
Among other mgoting
Strategies: :
Know how to move the

agenda along: Cut back on _
unproductive meetings by .

volunteering to help the
meeting leader develop a
written agenda that includes a

time frame for each point of
discussion.

Do your homework:
Research unfamiliar agenda
items by reading files or

collecting: background.

‘information.

* Talk to people who won’t
be:at the meeting but who
may have valuable things to

‘contribute.

Don’t miss an

. opportunity to. shine: If you

are shy about speaking up
during ‘meetings, practice
ahead of time.
_. Once you’ve done it
(participated in the meeting)
and survived, that in itself is a

~ confidence booster.

Number of small businesses

* In 1993, the latest year
for which statistics are avail-
able, there were a. total of

922,200. businesses operating -
-in Canada. :Of these:.911,700
or 99% had fewer than 100

employees; 859,900 or 93%
had fewer than 20 employees.
* Since 1982, there has
been.a 30% increase .in ,the
i> number. of.-businesses: regis-
tered in Canada.

‘After purchasing Effective Fitness in March
“4994, Tanis added some naw equipment and

New Location

After 20 years of managing Wightman
& Smith Insurance, Doug Mclaod
decided it was time for a change. So he
bought the business.

That. was June 1st of this year. Four
months later, it was time for another change.
Now the- staff at Wightman. & Smith
Insurance have just settled into their new
location in the Terrace Shopping Centre.
“We're more visible,” Doug says. “We
wanted to make it so that people feel
comfortable walking right in.” : , ’

He's clearly achlaved that. The spacious, newly renovated office is nearly 2000
square feet -- roomy for staff and welcoming for customers.

Wightman & Smith Insurance offers an extensive list of insurance services, such.
as Autoplan, multi-vehicle coverage, homeowner and rental or tenant insurance,''#
liability, business, and mortgage insurance.

Pictured here are the Wightman & Smith crew: (back row) Tammy, Kiera, Doug,
and Jean; (front) Lisa and Penny. = a

i é

wis Wightman & Smith Insurance Agencies sid.
_ fax: 635-6681 |

Your "Terrace Insurance Brokers”

It takes dedication to maintain a healthy fr.
level of fitness. It takes dedication to build a
respectable and reputabie fitness center.

Over the past year and half, Tanis
Sutherland and her staff have done just that.

more aerobics classes. Renovations created a
clean, bright and spacious workout area. But
most of all, friendly and knowledgeable stati
have built a positive working atmosphere where
members feel comfortable and supported.

‘it has been a learning experience,  Tanis —_— —— —
admits. “We have learned ihat everyone is an individual with their own 1 spectfic needs, goals and interests,”

“Knowing this has helped us understand the different commitment levels of our members,” she says, _
“Fitness for life takes hard work and dedication. We are happy to be able to support to our members in”
reaching their guats.” a

Effective Fitness has easy to use equipment for total body or area specific muscle toning and building; '
Free weights for fine tuning. A treadmill, stationary bikes and stair climbers for heart and jung conditioning:
For the ullimate in aerobic conditioning, Effective Fitness offers a selection of step aerobic classes to fit I
anyone's schedule. After the workout, a tanning bed will add a warm glow to your “new” body.

“All of us at Effective Fitness would like to congratulate all 917 of our members on their commitment”
to fitness for life,” ie

FFFEC TIVE
f TNESS

Monday-Friday « 6am-9 pin
Saturday +9 am-§ pm
Sunday + 10 am -4 pm

4545 Lazelle Ave.

Terrace, B.C.
635: 4130 ee

in

agers

eearzeore scene

affairs.

FRESTETreT

TUTE A TREES RTE TRE Ta

PR TRENP SF

rena rast prs

Northern Savings has been>
in operation for the past. |
fifty years - providing
financial services to local
businesses. We can assist _.
you with an innovative .
approach to your financial o

Our highly qualified
Commercial Services staff
can provide you with as
business package that' S:
designed to meet the need
of your business. | |

- Our newest location in Terrace.
will be opening in early 1996, ”
at the comer of Sparks Street
‘and Lazelle Avenue. ,
Meanwhile we're open for
business at our temporary
address at 4621 Lakelse
“Avenue. Hours of operation.
are 9:00 - 5:00 p.m. Monday
through Friday. |

Business for Yourself?
We'd Like to Talk one

| We offer competitive interest
. rates on commercial 2
mortgages, industrial —
equipment financing and ©
~ investment products.

Terrace Community Branch
4621 Lakelse Avenue |