I don't mean generally (e.g., by email or phone), I mean if you want to discuss plans/findings etc. Would you email some sort of synopsis before a meeting so that they can read through it and you're on the same page for the meeting, or would you just bring notes to the meeting and talk through stuff there? Probably quite a dumb question. I just find that my meetings don't always go as well as they could do. What do you do, and does it work?

I always tried to send things ahead so they knew what I was working on and how things were going. I think having an agenda (even a few bullets) to keep things on track can really help you to get what you need and means nobody is surprised at things coming up.

Cheers CR1980. I will try sending out something ahead of time (bullet points) so that the discussion can take off.

I always sent things ahead too otherwise you spend half the meeting explaining what you want to actually talk about.

Yep, it makes sense. Up to now things to discuss haven't really been very substantive (I think that is the right word), so it hasn't been necessary to send much (only drafts - which we don't discuss but just deal with over email). Now I'm planning more studies I guess I can send over my ideas/rationale and brief outline of design.

I send plan/agenda before hand too. So that they can look at it before hand. But sometimes they don't, so don't assume in meeting they have read it, ask them if they have. And then give them time in meeting to.

Cheers Hugh : )