Many of us feel that we spend too much time in unproductive meetings when we
could be getting on with some ‘real’ work. Well, meetings are real work and effective
meetings are the springboard for great results. Brilliant Meetings gives you the tips,
tools and techniques to transform all your meetings into positive experiences.
It shows you how to:
- prepare better
- get more out of meetings when you’re there
- follow up effectively to get the results you need
- attend only the meetings that matter
- use meetings to boost your profile and your career
Brilliant Meetings gives you a commonsense, workable and practical
approach to making all meetings brilliantly effective, for participants, meeting leaders
and organisations.
Table of Contents
1. Next Time You Participate In a Brilliant Meeting
Introduction
1. Using meetings to advance your career
First impressions
Choose your seat
Personal “Elevator Pitch”
Making the right contributions
Positive language
2. Meeting Ground Rules
Meeting Ground Rules - ACTION PLAN
3. Before the meeting
Meeting invitation
Review the Agenda
Considering your contributions
4. Contributions and presentations
Planning your contribution
Structuring your contribution
Contribution/presentation delivery options
Microsoft PowerPoint™
Handouts
Delivering content
Checklist - Brilliant contributions and presentations
5. During the meeting
Choosing your attitude
Creating your positive attitude
Questioning Techniques
Body language
6. Blagging It!
If all else fails
7. After the meeting
Leaving the room
Meeting actions
Communicating outcomes
Summary and Brilliant Checklist
2. Next Time You Prepare For a Brilliant Meeting
Introduction
8. Why has the meeting been scheduled?
Meeting purpose
Meeting objectives
Meeting title
Essential meeting logistics
Constructing the Agenda
Costs and benefits
9. Who needs to be invited?
Choosing your participants
Who to leave out
Assign meeting roles
10. When should the meeting be scheduled?
Meeting date
Travel
Time of day
Duration
11. Where should the meeting take place?
Venue considerations
“More Work – Less Traffic”
Facilities
12. What else needs completing?
Reinforce ground rules
Distribute briefing notes
Collate presentations
Schedule catering and breaks
Meeting notes
Meeting invitation
Additional preparation
13. In Room Meeting Resources – If You’ve Got Them – Use Them
Flip charts and whiteboards
Projectors, plasma and LCD Displays
Audio and video conferencing
Remote presenter
Interactive whiteboard
Visualiser / document camera
Response systems
Telepresence
Summary and Brilliant Checklist
3. Next Time You Lead a Brilliant Meeting
Introduction
14. Setting the tone
First impression
Opening statement
Housekeeping issues
Meeting Reminders
Working with a new group
Reaching decisions
15. During the meeting
Managing the agenda
Managing and encouraging contributions
Questioning techniques
Dealing with challenging behaviour
Recognising body language
Dealing with conflict situations
Interruptions
Impromptu meetings
16. Concluding the meeting
CLOSE on a high!
17. Same Time - Different Place
Multi-location, but one leader
Introductions
Cultural differences
Managing participation
Meeting evaluation
18. After the meeting
Evaluate meeting feedback
Managing follow-up actions
Wider communication
19. Do something different
Aroma
Music
Personal check-Ins
Ice breakers
Exercise and nutrition
Flipchart fun
The attention grabber
Breakout groups
Take away
Summary and Brilliant Checklist
4. A Brilliant Meeting Everytime
Introduction
20. The Organisational benefits
Do bad meetings really exist?
Effect a change to a positive meeting experience
Understanding why people meet
Do effective meetings matter?
How much do Brilliant Meetings cost?
The Brilliant Meeting effect on:
Employees
Customers
Corporate Social Responsibility targets
Aim to be Brilliant – Make Meetings Matter