Leading Meetings Fun and Creative Tools to Keep People Energized During a Meeting Presented by: Shelly Edwards, MLS, Library Consultant and Davita Crawford, MA, Developing Human Capital, LLC

Why Fun? To Create Engagement People who are using both sides of their brain are thinking fully, resulting in energy and engagement People need to feel they have accomplished something or see results from a meeting If we accomplish both of the above, people will want to meet and work together again

What Were Here For How do we encourage people to use both sides of their brain? How do we ensure good decision making and follow through? What techniques can we employ and how do we use them effectively?

Using Both Sides of Our Brain Left BrainContent Knowledge and information the participants bring regarding the task or the problem to be solved NOTE: This is the domain of the meeting participants Right BrainProcess The structure of the meeting (how it will flow, how topics are sequenced) Interpersonal dynamics (natural learning styles, modes of communication, organizational culture) NOTE: This is the domain of the meeting leader

Modes of Communication/Learning Auditory – verbal channel is engaged/listens Visual – flipchart to capture ideas/sees a presentation Kinesthetic – movement, activity/physically engaged

Food for Thought… If we are conducting a virtual meeting, how do we engage the visual learner? the kinesthetic? the auditory? For example, think about: Conference calls Webcasts Podcasts What else comes to mind?

The Meeting from He_ _ Think about the worst meeting (or the most ineffective) you have ever participated in… What was it that made it so dreadful?

Making Good Decisions Know the level of decision making in the room Know what the scope is, and stay within it Stay on task

Ensuring Commitment and Follow Through End with a reiteration of actions planned: Who will do what, by when Quick and easykeep it simple Make sure everyone is in agreement

Techniques We Can Employ Planning Preparing Facilitating Employing Our Whole Brain

Wrap Up Thoughts Whats so? So what? So now what?

So Remember: Make sure the meeting purpose is clear and stated What is the scope of decision making? Define roles and norms for participation Have a plan and follow it: lay out your process, and trust it.

The Biggest Problem in Meetings Too often, everyone will want to solve the problem, before the problem is defined and understood. Stay with the definition of the problem until everyone is clear. Then proceed. Remember: planning is 80% of effectiveness.

Resources Bens, Ingrid. Facilitating With Ease! A Step-by-Step Guidebook with Customizable Worksheets. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Estep, Tora. Meetings That Work. INFO-LINE No. 0505, Alexandria, VA: American Society for Training and Development,

Contact Us Shelly Edwards, MLS Library Consultant Davita H. Crawford, MA Developing Human Capital, LLC