Ten Secrets to Getting Results With Meetings

A Half-Day Seminar

Objectives

• To improve your service or product by using meetings to generate large numbers of fresh ideas and targeted solutions.
• To improve management by using meetings to clarify problems and make sound decisions in meetings.
• To increase productivity by reducing wasted time in meetings and using meeting strategies that work.

Seminar Premise

Power of Group Decision Making

In 1971, social psychologist Jay Hall performed an extensive research project based on the question, “Which generate better decisions — groups or individuals?” The results were dramatic and clear. Statistics showed that groups who discuss and agree together on a decision almost always made decisions that produced better results than decisions made by individuals.

Research Shows that Effective Meetings:

• Almost always produce better results than executive decisions
• Must adhere to certain key principles
• Remain an untapped resource in businesses today

Getting Results with Meetings shows you how to maximize the proven potential of group decision and action.

Seminar Structure

Meetings Are Better!

Students participate in a group meeting scenario which proves to them, through direct experience and analysis of the results, that groups produce better results than individuals. The case is made for the value of meetings, and they are ready to learn how to make meetings effective.

Listening Skills

Good group communication is based on each member having good communication skills as an individual. Listening is especially important in meetings, and students learn strategies to enhance their listening skills to generate better ideas from peers and avoid conflict.

Five Principles of Effective Meetings

Students are engaged by role plays in which they act out meeting scripts, both good and bad. They identify the TOP TEN most common problems with meetings. They discover the five key principles required to maximize results from meetings.

Five Steps of Effective Meetings

Students learn the five key steps that assure productive meetings that produce the results you want. They are engaged by putting these steps into action in a group meeting exercise, and are able to discover their effectiveness first-hand.

Seminar Content

What You Will Learn

• How to sharpen listening skills to encourage open communication
• How to encourage consensus, not compromise
• How to build group synergy

Five Principles of Effective Meetings

1. Stay focused on topics that are top priority
2. Stick to an established process
3. Keep discussion open and balanced
4. Avoid counter-productive conflict and competition in groups
5. Clarify responsibilities with FOUR KEY ROLES

Five Steps of Effective Meetings

1. Clarify issues to be addressed
2. Foster a creative and encouraging environment to elicit fresh ideas
3. Eliminate factors that kill good ideas in their early stages
4. Effectively evaluate solutions and finalize decisions
5. Develop an action plan with accountability built in

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