Secret 64: 15 Keys to Effective Meetings

Something needs to change.

First, staff need to be challenged to bring materials, deliver reports, and provide updates. Meeting participation should come with the expectation that staff members will present to the group and answer questions.

Second, the responsibility for running the meeting needs to be shared and rotated. Sharing the honors in this way increases engagement, as each person gains experience as a moderator. Periodically assuming the lead brings each participant closer to the purpose, value, and function of the meeting. Also, no one wants to be in the spotlight unprepared, especially when there will be questions. The meeting needs some degree of preparation, presenters chosen, reports printed. This new dynamic opens opportunities for guidance and mentoring by you and other managers to ensure that meetings are productive and moderators are well versed.

I can promise you that once a team member has been tasked with running a meeting, they will always have a higher level of involvement and participation afterward. They develop a deeper understanding of what’s involved, what’s at stake, and what it’s like to be in the hot seat of the meeting chair. You’ll find that participation will skyrocket and future meetings will be far better attended, productive, and enjoyed.

There are many variations on the traditional meeting that can also spur interest and participation: