This article covers meetings from A to Z. anyone involved in planning and chairing meetings will find the concepts extremely useful. 

What is a meeting?

A 'meeting' is defined as a group of three or more individuals arranged for a specific time, place and purpose. It does not cover meetings between two individuals, or purely accidental encounters, important as both these events may be!

 

Advantages of meetings

Meetings may not always be necessary or efficient. It is important to ensure that they are justified before committing the time, effort and other costs involved.

 

In the right situation, effective meetings can:

 provide swift and effective communication between a number of people

 be an effective decision making instrument

 enhance the motivation and commitment of a team

 

Disadvantages of badly managed meetings

Some of the least effective meetings are those that are held regularly, such as every week or every month. Whether regular or not, ineffective or unnecessary meetings can:

 waste time and money

 exacerbate divisions and bad feeling

 produce poor decisions

 

Action checklist for organizing and chairing effective meetings

To be fully effective, appropriate action will be necessary before, at, and after a meeting. Responsibility for success rests not only on the organiser and Chair, but on all participants.

 

Before the meeting

1. Ask "Do I really need a meeting?" Consider what the purpose of the meeting is: to exchange information; to monitor progress on performance; to deal with specific problems; to brainstorm an issue; or to develop future plans. Only when you have done so can you decide the best timing, attendance and format of the meeting

2. Set clear, precise objectives (not the agenda) for the meeting

3. Decide who should be present; neither too many nor too few

4. Choose the date, starting and finishing time, and place. Few meetings need to last longer than two hours at most

5. Set the agenda. For each item clarify the objective and who will lead the discussion. Construct a timetable so that important items do not get squeezed out and lesser items do not absorb disproportionate time

6. Make administrative arrangements, including:

 choose and book a suitable room

 ensure necessary equipment and supplies will be available

 arrange catering

7. Notify all involved as early as possible. The notification should include:

 full details of date, time and place

 list of invitees

 the agenda

 reports and other supporting papers

8. Arrange for secretarial help at the meeting

9. Complete personal research, reading and other preparation

10. Consider meeting objectives and strategy

11. Consider whether to make appropriate advance contact with any participants whose contributions may be critical to the success of the meeting

 

 

At the meeting the Chair/leader should

1. Arrive in good time

2. Check that all arrangements, including equipment, seating and refreshments, are in order

3. Welcome participants on arrival (especially newcomers)

4. Undertake any pre-meeting contacts necessary with key participants, but do not appear to fix things beforehand

5. Start promptly

6. Deal with administrative items:

 Introductions of newcomers, congratulations, thanks, good wishes, condolences, apologies etc

 message-taking, car parking, smoking, catering etc

 Timing of breaks, end of meeting

7. Despatch routine items

8. Introduce each agenda item effectively, with emphasis on the objectives

9. Shape and control the discussion:

 encourage the shy

 restrain the verbose and opinionated

 allow only one discussion at a time

 separate different subjects

 'hold' on subjects that are not exhausted

 balance contributions on contentious subjects

 keep control of time

 use visual aids where they can help to make your point

 don't express an opinion unless needed at the end

 summarise at intervals

 seek clear decisions at the appropriate point

 express appreciation for members' contributions

10. Conclude firmly and tidily, emphasising action points agreed

11. Keep creative and analytical discussion separate. Creative, problem solving and decisioin making meetings need a more relaxed timetable and atmosphere. It is hard to switch from the routine to the creative and vice versa

 

 

After the meeting

1. Write down immediately the decisions taken, the actions agreed with the persons responsible for action and the dates by which action should be achieved

2. Distribute the note to all participants and to others whom it may concern

3. Monitor the progress of subsequent action

 

Do's and don'ts for effective meetings

Do

 Consider other ways in which the objectives of a proposed meeting can be achieved

 Prepare thoroughly - well in advance

 Arrive in good time

 Consider participants' comfort and convenience (e.g. smoking, ventilation, acoustics and noise levels, breaks etc)

 Use visual aids where useful

 Focus on the objectives for each item

 Ensure all contribute what they can to the discussion

 Maintain good but not oppressive discipline

 Aim for consensus whenever possible

Don't

 Take notes if you are also the leader or a key contributor

 Lose your temper

 Get involved in purely personal disagreements

 Talk too much or for too long

 Insist on having the last word

 Talk first, except to introduce a topic

 Let the meeting run on and on

How to assess meeting effectiveness

As with other activities, assessment of effectiveness and proper meeting time management will depend on having set clear objectives in advance, for the whole meeting and for individual items. Common measures of effectiveness include:

 Did all present contribute positively, according to their roles?

 Was the discussion lively but good-tempered throughout?

 Were all relevant aspects of the subjects properly explored?

 Was consensus reached on all major decisions?

 Did the meeting cover the subjects within the time allotted?

 Did all leave with clear knowledge of what had been achieved, and their own responsibilities for future action?

 Ask participants to complete a brief evaluation; they perceive their own weaknesses and do better next time

 

Sample Meeting Evaluation Form

 

Useful readings

Books

Successful Meetings in a Week John Payne and Shirley Payne London: Headway, 1994

Let's Have a Meeting

Leslie Rae

London: McGraw Hill, 1994

How to Make Meetings Work

Malcolm Peel

London: Kogan Page, 1990

Thought starters

Was the last meeting you called/attended really necessary?

Do you always prepare for meetings, whether as Chair or participant, thoroughly and in advance?

 Who is the best meeting leader you have worked with? Why was he/she so effective?

 Who is the worst meeting leader you have worked with? Why was he/she so ineffective?