What is the business case for effective meetings?
First, let us recognize that, in general, meetings are a huge waste of resources. The opportunity cost of bringing people together – even virtually – to talk about an issue [...]
First, let us recognize that, in general, meetings are a huge waste of resources. The opportunity cost of bringing people together – even virtually – to talk about an issue [...]
Facilitation, understood as designing and leading a participatory group process, can have a transformative effect. In the hands of a skilled professional, a facilitated process can help a group discuss [...]
If the objective or main purpose of the meeting is not clear, participants will not grasp why they should attend. Or you might invite the wrong people. Example of an [...]
It is not necessary or useful to invite the whole team to every meeting. When the meeting objective and the topics on the agenda are of no relevance to them, [...]
In many organizations lack of punctuality at the beginning and end of meetings is so common that it has become the norm. Some participants arrive at the scheduled time… and [...]
If you want your staff to arrive on time, ready to contribute to the objective announced in the invitation, you must prepare an agenda in advance and, when possible, share [...]
Workplace meetings are not just for talking… and talking… and talking without arriving at a conclusion. To avoid the waste of time and energy caused by interminable speeches, you first [...]
Some people experience a tension between achieving results and building relationships in a meeting. They see these as two competing – and possibly mutually exclusive goals. For me this is [...]
Inserting a facilitator into a group´s existing power dynamics is a risky business. Often a facilitator’s help is requested because dysfunctional behaviors are inhibiting the group´s effectiveness. The client allegedly [...]
When you hear the words “hidden agendas,” what comes to mind? Clandestine plots? Power games? Conspiracies lurking in the meeting room? What if, in the planning phase of a meeting, [...]
When someone asks me “How long should a meeting last?” the underlying question often is “How can we avoid meetings that drag on with no apparent end in sight?” The [...]
Imagine that the participants at your meetings arrive full of curiosity about the discussion to come and leave feeling energized by the work they accomplished together. Imagine that the conversation [...]
When I ask people how the agenda is set for meetings in their organization, too often I receive responses like these: Agenda? What agenda? Most of our meetings do not [...]
In a recent workshop, “Excellent meetings at work,” this question came up: Is it valid not to invite someone because we believe s/he is conflictive or will create conflict? The [...]
Quick answer: No. Here are some typical distinctions between these two formats for human interaction. Meeting Conversation Formal Informal Set time and place Spontaneous Conference table Kitchen table Protocol-driven Arise [...]
With the good intention of 'being inclusive,' meeting organizers sometimes propose dynamics that are more boring than productive. Some typical examples of these mistaken practices include: A round of introductions [...]
In the same way that an actor can have a moment of stage fright before the curtain goes up, facilitators sometimes experience a similar sensation before taking our place in [...]
Our students and colleagues often ask us how to motivate people to attend meetings. If you face a “motivational problem” in meetings that you convene or facilitate, please take a [...]
Sharing responsibility for the facilitation of a complex meeting or a large event such as a workshop or conference presents challenges and opportunities that are different from those we face [...]
As consultants in participatory processes, we have observed that many organizations plan their special events such as conferences, workshops, forums, assemblies, etc. differently than their everyday business meetings. We wonder, [...]
Facilitating a participatory process is not the job of one person. Even though those who are in the role of facilitator usually stand in front of the group where we [...]
While the primary tool for a group facilitator is his/her own, integral presence expressed through gestures, tone of voice and gaze, other technologies exist that can make our work more [...]
When people think about working in groups, they often focus on unpleasant aspects such as conflict, boredom or rampant egos. They almost never mention saying “thank you” as a memorable [...]
In the context of a meeting, the content experts are those who have knowledge and experience related to issues under discussion. They can be members of the group or invited [...]
IIFAC facilitators are firmly committed to the importance of breaks during meetings. We also recognize that getting participants back in the room after a break can be a challenge. Here [...]
We have written in the past about the importance of scheduling breaks during meetings. Now we want to go a step further to investigate what is on the table beside [...]
Consider the language we use to name the elements of most large meetings: Dignitaries on a podium (raised platform) in the front of an auditorium Plenary sessions that everyone is [...]
Having focused on the human factor in meetings, we want to also reflect on a meeting moment that everyone eagerly awaits but often no one has planned for very well: [...]
We would like to highlight an element that is often neglected when thinking of ways to engage, respect and treat people well: the evaluation at the end of the session. [...]
Breaks are strategies to increase participation and satisfaction in meetings. Let´s reflect for a moment about the meaning of this statement from the point of view of the three principal [...]
We always suggest the importance of taking into account the group's context and overall state of mind when planning a meeting. Now we want to share some ideas about how [...]
You can balance the contents of an agenda with the time available for the meeting in several ways. While these “structural” elements can go a long way toward improving the [...]
In a world where innovation is discussed in relation to every organizational area, why do meetings remain stuck in the 19th century? We know that meetings, whether face-to-face or virtual, [...]
The short answer to the question “Does every decision require consensus?” is “No, of course not! The even shorter answer is “It depends.” Groups implementing consensus process for the first [...]
This common misconception that “we all decide everything together” is a recipe for frustration and failure. True consensus process does not mean endless meetings and little forward momentum toward common [...]
The short answer is: Maybe. Here are some conditions that work against the successful adoption of consensus process: Leadership values control over collaboration, that is, the leaders do not want [...]
This comes as a surprise to those of you who are accustomed to voting and then, if more people are for the proposal than against, declaring “consensus.” If the vote [...]
Still unclear on the concept of what a process facilitator does and why you might want to become one? Don´t worry. It is an occupational hazard. Sometimes I long for [...]
Process facilitators get this question all the time. Despite the fact that there are thousands of us around the world and an international association that sets professional standards and defines [...]
November 1991. Northern Michigan, almost at the Canadian border. Ten people gathered in a small hostel for a weeklong training in group facilitation and consensus decision-making. I was thinking, "A [...]
Writing about IIFAC's 10th anniversary timeline caused me to think about how history happens. One thing is for sure --at least in my case-- the outcome is always a surprise. [...]
You will lose. People who are checking their email, exchanging text messages, surfing the web, tweeting or playing "Words with Friends" during a meeting are NOT fully engaged with the [...]