The Beginning - Setting the tone and creating the framework are important to give the participants clarity and confidence that the meeting will be productive. The purpose and size of the meeting will dictate how I set the tone and create a framework:
- Need an icebreaker?
- Need visuals?
- Need to update from a prior meeting or experience "Why are we here?"
- What exercise and opening remarks will encourage participation from group? "What is the plan and what are expectations for this meeting?"
The Middle - Meetings should no longer be frontal presentations. Meetings should be a verb - people are meeting, interacting, discussing, planning, thinking and working together. I look around at failed meetings and I see participants on their phones playing games, checked out, talking to each other, lost in their own thoughts and it frustrates me. This is the critical portion of the meeting and all need to be engaged.
- What documents/visuals/tools will encourage conversation?
- Which participants can present and help ignite creativity and results?
- What will motivate the group to foster collegial partnerships?
The End - Every meeting needs to end with the next steps. I try to link every meeting to the one before and the one I plan will follow.
- Clearly state results and review important issues that were addressed in the meeting.
- Highlight the ideas that were generated from this meeting.
- Determine the next steps as a group and put them in writing (post it board).
- Give positive feedback and thank everyone for participating.
- After the meeting, send email with gratitude and recap.
Fostering positive feeling among colleagues helps the individuals be more productive and nurtures creative collaboration. Think big, dream big - every day, with every meeting.
No comments:
Post a Comment