Meetings come in all shapes and sizes, from the convention to a quick huddle in an office hallway. This one-day 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.
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.
To begin, participants will explore the key characteristics of successful meetings. Participants will also discuss types of meetings and alternatives to holding a meeting.
Participants will work in small groups to identify the characteristics of effective meetings and ineffective meetings.
During this session, participants will explore the keys to productive meetings through large group discussion and a case study.
Participants will be given planning guidelines, including tips on determining the time and attendees.
This session will educate participants about the importance of agendas. Participants will also take part in a small group activity to reinforce the concepts.
During this session, participants will look at some things to consider when choosing the location and physical setup for the meeting.
Next, participants will learn skills for leading a successful meeting.
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.
Participants will explore types of difficult dynamics and solutions in a group exercise.
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.
At the end of the course, students will have an opportunity to ask questions and fill out an action plan.
