How to Run a Successful Teacher Collaboration Meeting

On attending badly run academic meetings (or come prepared to start the meeting). Every so often I attend a meeting and wonder why I am there. It kicks off with someone rambling a bit about family, the past weekend, and more. About ten minutes in, I start reading email. About 15 minutes in, I stop my video and grab a coffee. About 20 minutes in, we finally get down to business. While the social part of meetings is the lubricant that keeps the social wheels of human systems moving, I have found it far more effective to start a meeting with work and to end a meeting with social chatter. Why? 1. You want people to be fresh. 2. You want people to be engaged. 3. You want people to know why they are present. 4. You want people to know they need to be on time. 5. You want people to be prepared. When meetings start with social chatter, any one or all of these conditions are not met. So what to do? 1. Hold meetings with a purpose - don’t hold them for the sake of having one. 2. Send an agenda in advance - so people know what to expect. 3. Take accountability for delivering some of the content - so people know you are working to. 4. Send documents in advance - some will read them and some won’t - but they will refer to them on the call. 5. Update meeting invites and attach docs - make them easy to find - so people can prepare. 6. Make it clear when business is done - so people can leave OR have the social chatter they desire. 7. Sum up the meeting with a short email - not minutes - with action items - so the next meeting runs more smoothly. If you do these things consistently, you will find meetings run a lot better, a lot faster, and a lot more will get done. Which. Limits the need for more meetings. Best of luck! #academiclife #phd #academia

I have participated in a lot of meetings, huddles, and planning sessions over my career. The ones that are most valuable to the team are action oriented or focused on task(s) at hand. Here are some key ways to make your discussions more focused: 1. Set clear objectives and desired outcomes: Clearly define the purpose of the meeting and what you aim to achieve by the end. Establish specific objectives and outcomes that focus on actionable items or decisions. 2. Prepare an agenda with action items: Develop a well-structured agenda that includes specific action items or topics to be addressed during the meeting. Each agenda item should have a clear objective and desired outcome. 3. Assign roles and responsibilities: Designate roles and responsibilities for participants before the meeting. Ensure that key individuals are assigned specific tasks related to the meeting's objectives. This ensures accountability and action after the meeting. 4. Create a conducive environment: Encourage active participation and collaboration during the meeting. Foster an environment where everyone feels comfortable sharing their ideas, asking questions, and providing input. This will contribute to generating actionable insights and solutions. 5. Focus on problem-solving and decision-making: Direct discussions towards problem-solving and decision-making. Encourage participants to bring forward challenges, share ideas, and collectively find solutions. Aim to reach decisions that will lead to specific actions or changes. 6. Clarify action items and next steps: Clearly articulate action items and next steps throughout the meeting. Summarize key tasks, decisions, and assignments, ensuring that everyone understands their responsibilities. Clarify timelines and expectations for completion. 7. Follow up and track progress: After the meeting, follow up on action items and track progress. Send a meeting summary that includes action items, responsible parties, and deadlines. Regularly check in with participants to provide support, address any roadblocks, and ensure that actions are being taken. 8. Assess and evaluate: Reflect on the effectiveness of the meeting and the action items that were generated. Evaluate whether the objectives were met, if actions were taken as planned, and if desired outcomes were achieved. Use this assessment to improve future meetings and make them even more action-oriented. By implementing these steps, your meetings can become more focused on taking action, driving change, and achieving concrete results. #outcomes #huddles #meetings #hospitaloperations

Running an effective meeting is crucial for maximizing productivity and achieving organizational goals. Maybe not in the plank position, but you want to keep your meetings on point, efficient, and effective. By implementing these key strategies, you can transform your meetings from timewasters to powerful drivers of success. ✅ PURPOSE AND AGENDA Every successful meeting starts with a well-defined purpose and a structured agenda. Before scheduling, ask yourself: "What specific outcome do we want to achieve?" Once you've established the purpose, create a detailed agenda that outlines the topics to be discussed, allocates time for each item, and identifies who will lead each section. Share this agenda with participants in advance, allowing them to prepare and contribute meaningfully. ✅ INVITE THE RIGHT PEOPLE Carefully consider who needs to be present for the meeting to achieve its objectives. Avoid the common pitfall of inviting too many people, which can lead to unfocused discussions and wasted time. Instead, include only those who can contribute directly to the meeting's purpose or who will be impacted by the decisions made. ✅ EFFECTIVE FACILITATION As the meeting leader, guide the discussion, maintain focus, and ensure everyone's voice is heard. Start by clearly communicating the meeting's objective and ground rules. Throughout the meeting, keep the conversation on track by gently redirecting off-topic discussions and encouraging participation from all attendees. ✅ TIME MANAGEMENT Respect everyone's time by starting and ending the meeting promptly. Use the "5-minute rule" to maintain engagement: aim to involve participants in problem-solving or discussion at least every 5 minutes to keep everyone alert. ✅ ACTION ITEMS AND FOLLOW-UP Conclude your meeting by summarizing key decisions, assigning clear action items, and setting deadlines. Designate a note-taker to record these outcomes and distribute them to all participants after the meeting. This practice ensures accountability and provides a clear path forward. ✅ INNOVATIVE APPROACHES To make your meetings even more effective, consider implementing these innovative strategies: A.    Rotate Meeting Leaders: Assign different team members to lead meetings, foster engagement, and develop leadership skills across the organization. B.    Use Technology Wisely: For virtual or hybrid meetings, ensure all participants can fully engage by testing technology in advance and providing equal opportunities for remote attendees to contribute. C.     Incorporate Brief Activities: Engage participants with short, relevant activities or icebreakers that energize the group and promote creative thinking. By implementing these strategies, you can transform your meetings into productive, engaging sessions that drive your organization forward. Remember, the goal is not just to have meetings, but to make every meeting matter. For more strategies >>> https://lnkd.in/gwNw4zVe