Planning and Delivering Productive Meetings

Audience:

This course is beneficial to everyone.

Prerequisites:

None

Description:

Meetings come in all shapes and sizes, from the convention to a quick huddle in an office hallway. This workshop will be concerned with small working meetings; with groups that have a job to do requiring the energy, commitment, and talents of those who participate. Members of such a group want to get some kind of result out of their time together: solving problems, brainstorming, or simply sharing information. At its best, such a group knows what it is about, and knows and utilizes the strengths of individual members.

Course Objectives:

This one-day workshop teaches participants to:

• Understand the value of meetings as a management tool
• Recognize the critical planning step that makes meeting time more effective
• Utilize techniques to make the hybrid meeting environment inclusive and engaging
• Identify process tools that can help create an open and safe forum for discussion
• Develop and practice techniques for handling counterproductive behaviors

Outline:

Lesson 1: Course Overview

You will spend the first part of the day getting to know participants and discussing what will take place during the workshop. Students will also have an opportunity to identify their personal learning objectives.

Lesson 2: The Basics for Effective Meetings

To begin, participants will explore the key characteristics of successful meetings. Participants will also discuss types of meetings and alternatives to holding a meeting.

Lesson 3: The Best and Worst of Meetings

Participants will work in small groups to identify the characteristics of effective meetings and ineffective meetings.

Lesson 4: Holding Productive Meetings

During this session, participants will explore the keys to productive meetings through large group discussion and a case study.

Lesson 5: Preparing for Meetings

Participants will be given planning guidelines, including tips on determining the time and attendees.

Lesson 6: Agendas

This session will educate participants about the importance of agendas. Participants will also take part in a small group activity to reinforce the concepts.

Lesson 7: Setting the Place

During this session, participants will look at some things to consider when choosing the location and physical setup for the meeting.

Lesson 8: Hybrid Meeting Environments

Participants will discuss the pros and cons of hybrid work environments. They will also discuss ways to make hybrid meetings inclusive.

Lesson 9: Leading a Meeting

Next, participants will learn skills for leading a successful meeting.

Lesson 10: Process and Content

This session will explore the differences between process and content. Participants will also learn about ground rules, different techniques for engaging meetings, and facilitation skills.

Lesson 11: How to Control a Meeting

Participants will explore types of difficult dynamics and solutions in a group exercise.

Lesson 12: A Plan for Success

To wrap up the day, participants will work in small groups to create an action plan for areas of weakness identified in their pre-assignment.

Lesson 13: Workshop Wrap-Up

At the end of the course, students will have an opportunity to ask questions and fill out an action plan.