Monday, January 28, 2013

The 3 P's of a Successful Meeting

Plan - Prepare - Practice

Yes! The 3 P's actually work.  Both for the person running the meeting and the attendees.
...below are some bullet points, please add comments with your "best practices."

Plan:

  • Date (day of week and date).
  • Location (address/map/be specific).
  • Time (start and finish).
  • Theme (creates interest).
  • Agenda (and a Plan B for emergencies).
  • Number of attendees, names and business / roles.
  • Expected outcome (creates expectations).
  • Food? Drinks? Special needs?


Prepare:

  • Finalize and send out agenda.
  • Confirm attendance (ask for any special needs).
  • Prepare your presentation(s), and questions and comments.
  • Share with attendees what they need to bring to the meeting.
  • Follow up and confirm with location and food.
  • Attendees: confirm and clarify expected outcomes, agendas, themes with chairperson before meeting day.
  • Listen to weather reports. (have a plan B for travel arrangements)


Practice:

  • If you are running the meeting, do several mock run-throughs with yourself or friends and family.
  • If you are contributing to the meeting practice your speech, presentations, questions and comments.
  • Make sure you know exactly where the meeting is located. Drive to the location the day or night before.
  • Make it a standard practice to arrive at all meetings 15 minutes early.
  • Make it a standard practice to follow up on meeting action steps.
  • Make it a standard practice to thank facilitators and attendees of the meeting, for their time and participation.
  • Make it a standard practice to ask for feedback, if applicable.
  • Make it a standard practice to schedule the next meeting before meeting ends, if applicable.


"Failing to plan, prepare and practice...creates a practice of preparing a plan that will fail."

Copyright (1-28-2013) by Bob Gambone.

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