#317 on topic

As the facilitator of meetings, it is up to you to set some ground rules in the beginning that empower all the members of a group to play a role in keeping the meeting on track.  Especially when the same group of people meet regularly, there are a few easy things that can be done which allow everyone in the group to have a role in meeting management rather than relying only on the facilitator.

Here are some ideas:

1.  Certain topics are bound to be raised over and over.  While appropriate re-discussion may be warranted, at some point it is counter-productive to continue.  We have a small plastic horse and when someone has "beat the horse to death", a member of the group just tips over the plastic horse as a sign to all that it is time to move on.

2.  Another meeting hazard is when the conversation sways off-topic.  One point leads to another and soon the whole group is off on a tangent.  Give members permission at the beginning of the year to utilize the basketball "T" technical call -- and allow people to "call a T" when the conversation is wandering off on a "T"angent.

3.  Participants often bring up topics over and over again so they feel heard.  Assure them that the item won't be forgotten by keeping a running list on the bottom of the agenda of "future topics" that need to become agenda items. 

4.  If you're only together as a group for one day (such as a retreat) where there is no "future agenda", you can also defer side conversations by hanging a piece of flip chart paper and labeling it as a "parking lot."  "Park" the off-topic ideas there to be either addressed later or included in the notes for other types of follow up.

Don't let your agenda be derailed or your time wasted by meetings that go astray.  See if the above tips -- broadly and openly shared with all -- can be deployed to maximize the productivity of your valuable time together.

-- beth triplett
leadershipdots.blogspot.com
@leadershipdots
leadershipdots@gmail.com