In his book "Managing in the next Society" Peter F. Drucker states that "only the productivity of knowledge workers makes a measurable difference - and right now it is quite poor". And where do you find all these knowledge workers? In meetings.

Meeting-Mania many critics moan. A waste of time, engineers and scientists groan. And managers fear, the group decides by its own. Bête noire.

But: Meetings often represent the only way to converge different knowledge resources to produce the desired results within a project or a process. Meetings also are a unique opportunity to initiate and steer new dynamics. And they are the best way to learn and develop as a group.

So let's tackle this "bête noire" in four chapters to turn it into a beloved animal:

• Only on purpose
• Preparation is the cheapest investment
• Virtues of Leadership to remember
• Pitfalls test the best