Effective Meeting Skills, Student Edition

Effective Meeting Skills

Course Specifications

Course Number: CCT–108_rev1.0

Course Length: 1 day

Course Description

Meetings are commonplace in modern civilization. In addition to the meetings that take place during working hours, nearly everyone at one time or another is a member of a professional society, civic association, service club, or religious group. With meetings occurring so frequently one could expect them to be a source of satisfaction and accomplishment. However, this often is not the case.

This book was designed to help you improve the quality of meetings you attend either as the leader, or as a participant. It begins with the premise that an effective meeting is one that achieves its objectives within a reasonable time. Throughout the book are questionnaires, checklists, and exercises that emphasize the material presented. Work through these as you go along. They serve as an excellent means of verifying your understanding. Effective meetings are within your grasp. Simply read, understand, and apply the ideas contained in this book.

Course Content

Part 1: Introduction

What Is a Meeting and What Makes One Effective?
Types of Meetings
Problems with Meetings

Part 2: Planning Meetings

To Meet Or Not to Meet
Developing an Agenda
Selecting Participants
Choosing a Meeting Time
Arranging Facilities
Worksheet for Planning a Meeting

Part 3: Conducting Meetings

The Meeting Leader’s Role
Structuring Decision-Making Meetings
Generating Alternatives
Choosing Among Alternatives
Stimulating Discussion
Handling Difficult Situations
Managing Conflict
Handling Confrontation in Meetings
Being a Productive Participant

Part 4: Improving Meetings

How to Improve Meetings
Meeting Evaluation
Setting Meeting Ground Rules
Providing Feedback

Appendix

Appendix to Part 1
Appendix to Part 2
Appendix to Part 3
Appendix to Part 4