Meetings, meetings, meetings!

Meetings, meetings, meetings!

Some of us spend a large proportion of our working lives in meetings – and much of this time is wasted.

That’s why good chairing skills are crucial. This practical and engaging programme shows how skillful chairing can steer a meeting to a successful conclusion, saving considerable time and significantly boosting efficiency.

Be able to manage and chair meetings even more effectively and efficiently
Know how to make the most of the ‘before’, ‘during’ and ‘after’ phases of the meeting
Understand how to stimulate and facilitate discussion to maximise engagement
Know how to make sure contributions are heard and taken note of
Know how to clearly define the purpose of a meeting, and prepare a realistic agenda

Be able to handle negative, time-wasting and disruptive behaviours effectively
Know how to get a meeting off to a good start and ‘stamp your mark’ on it
Learn how to manage conference call meetings in a way that keeps people’s attention
Know how to ensure actions are recorded and followed up

Workshop outline

(Full-day version, 9.30 – 5.00)

1. Achieving best practice in meetings

2. The perfect chairperson / manager

3. The ‘before’ phase

4. The ‘during’ phase

Managing the meeting process
Getting off to a good start by setting the scene
How to keep the meeting on track and to time
Encouraging and facilitating the discussion
The power of summaries to clarify understanding

5. Handling difficult people and situations

6. The ‘after’ phase

Bringing the meeting to a successful close
Ensuring everything has been covered
Why it’s important to distribute minutes ASAP
How to make minutes as effective as possible
Best practice for recording the most important discussions and agreements made / actions to be taken
Following up on action points

7. When the meeting isn’t working

8. Virtual meetings

9. Actions and next steps

‘Good background in basics and how-to’s of effective meetings.’

‘It covered all aspects of running and attending effective meetings.’

‘It was good to know that the things that I am doing for meetings are best practice but there are things that I can still improve on.’

‘I like the trainer’s style. He delivered the Time Management course – that’s why I did this course too. I also like the structure & content of the session!’

‘Reaffirmed what we have been doing and gave some practical ideas to improve. Easy to implement.’

‘Even if you know how to run a meeting, this will make you re-evaluate what you do.’