Do you sometimes feel you’re losing control of a meeting and don’t know how to get it back on track? These 9 tips for effective meeting facilitation will help you bring it back onside. It only takes one side conversation that takes a life of its own or one tenacious attendee to derail the focus of the entire group. Once you lose control, herding the cats back into the corral can seem like an impossible task.
Here are 9 tips to help you become a cat herding champion.
But first, why does it matter? Shouldn’t a facilitator ensure that everyone has their say? Yes and no. The facilitator needs to be respectful of everyone in the room and be aware of his or her responsibilities.
Participants expect that the meeting will run on time, and complete the agenda. When this happens, they feel a sense of accomplishment and that their time has been well spent. If you deliver this consistently, volunteers will be easier to attract and retain for your organization. Effective meeting facilitation is a hallmark of the High Performance Organization TM.
The 9 tips below can be used effectively for any type of meeting; small or large.
Preparation: 3 Tips before your meeting starts
- Start with a pre-approved agenda.
- Ensure that each agenda item has a time limit consistent with the priority and complexity of the agenda item.
- Ensure that briefing materials as required for each agenda item are included with the agenda. Make it clear that participants are expected to have read them.
Onsite: 6 Tips while you are facilitating the meeting
- Remind participants of your role as the facilitator. Your job is to keep the meeting on track and on time.
- Start by reiterating the agenda, timing and deliverables for the meeting. Note what needs to be accomplished.
- Allow equal time for the pros and cons for each agenda item; not equal time for each participant. Call a close when both sides have been well stated.
- Beware of rabbit holes. If the conversation gets off track, bring it back to the agenda item. Respect and record items that are not on the agenda and put them in a “parking lot” agenda for later.
- Build in regular time checks to the agenda and call out respectfully if the meeting is going overtime.
- When the meeting is completed, summarize the decisions and the parking lot items and compliment the participants on a job well done.
If you don’t believe us, an article by Meeteor.com references the following:
- Begin your meetings with a quick check-in
- Review desired outcomes and agenda items
- Assign meeting roles
- Practice active listening
- Synthesize the main themes to reframe the conversation
- Pause and allow for reflection
- Encourage and balance participation
- Take a break and re-energize
- Provide closure
like some help training your leaders to be good facilitators and directors, contact the Zzeem team.