Our ability to manage effective meetings is critical to organizational success. To work successfully with people so that they produce desired results while feeling respected and motivated is a challenge. This interactive program focuses on the skills, qualities, techniques and tools needed to plan, conduct and follow through for face to face and remote meetings.

Meetings are a vehicle to bring out the best ideas, utilize resources for effective problem solving and resolve conflict that Impacts effectiveness. Through a series of hands-on learning exercises participants have a chance to practice meeting effectiveness roles, use facilitation tools and skills and receive feedback and coaching on how to deal with specific meeting situations and difficult behaviors. Participants will acquire valuable tools and skills for keeping people focused, following through on decisions and actions, and achieving desired outcomes.

Who should attend

Individuals who will benefit from this course include: Managers, Leaders, Supervisors and Individuals who want to improve their ability to run effective meetings.

What you will achieve

• The ability to plan a meeting and structure an effective agenda
• The ability to effectively manage the three phases of a meeting before, during, and after
• Tools and structures to run an effective meeting
• The ability to successfully facilitate challenging situations
• An understanding of how to use strategies and techniques for dealing with difficult behaviors
• Checklists, tools, and formats for face-to-face and virtual meetings

What you will learn

At the end of this How to Conduct Effective and Efficient Meetings Course, participants will be able to know:

• Conflict management
• The ability to identify types of conflict
• Specific approaches for dealing with conflict in groups
• Elements and factors of a productive meeting environment
• Tools used to establish successful interactions and effective meetings
• Decision-making strategies and how to use the different types of decision-making strategies
• Prevention and intervention techniques
• Strategies and tools to promote and maintain focus and group productivity
• Outcomes and results strategies
• Actions to take to follow through on decisions and actions
• How to assure ownership for successful outcomes and follow through

Course outline 

Module 1: Introduction

• Why Have Meetings?
• Foundation Tools for Meeting Effectiveness
• Utilizing the Role of Scribe, Facilitator and Summary Presenter
• Challenges and Goals
• Team Requirements Exercise
• Mini-meeting Exercises

Module 2: Facilitation Skills and Qualities

• Participants Identify Skills
• Self-Assessment on Qualities
• Areas to targets

Module 3: Meeting Effectiveness

• How to Manage the Three Phases
• Before - Planning and Preparing for the Agenda
• During - Keeping Members Focused and on Track
• After - Following Up with Notes and Check-ins on Actions
• Agenda Planning Exercise
• Module 4: Develop the Team
• Types of Decisions and Strategies
• Use Key Questions to Facilitate Dialogue
• Identify and Analyze Goals and Factors
• Choosing the Right Process
• Team Exercise - Meeting for Results

Module 5: Model the Way

• Perceptions and Behaviors Needed
• Developing Your Emotional Intelligence
• Prevention and Intervention Techniques
• "Dreaded Behaviors" Games
• Module 6: Summary and Close
• Revisit Challenges and Goals
• Next Actions