Meetings come in all shapes and sizes, from the convention to a quick huddle in an office hallway. This one-day program 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, setting goals or priorities, or simply defining with each other some mutual needs and fears and hopes. At its best, such a group knows what it is about, and knows and utilizes the strengths of individual members.

OBJECTIVES

• Understand the value of meetings as a management tool.
• Recognize the critical planning step that makes meeting time more effective.
• Identify the steps to take to create an open and safe forum for discussion.
• Develop and practice techniques for handling counterproductive behaviour.

OUTLINE

• The Basics for Effective Meetings
• The Best and the Worst of Meetings
• Holding Meetings
• Preparing for Meetings
• Agendas
• Setting the Place
• Meeting Preparation
• Leading a Meeting
• Your Role As Group Leader
• Process and Content
• What is a Facilitator? Why Have One?
• Key Behaviours for a Facilitator
• How to Control a Meeting
• Difficult Meeting Participants

OUR TRAINING METHODOLOGY/PROCESS

• This course was designed to deal with practical issues and transfer simple yet useful techniques.
• The program is provided through:
  o Lectures;
  o Presentations;
  o Self assessment tools;
  o Case Studies;
  o Group work.
• The course encompasses adult education principles and learning styles, that is:
  o Knowledge transfer (lecturing);
  o Interaction (questioning);
  o Participation (discussions);
  o Group work (application).