Thoughts on Meetings

When I give a lecture, I accept that people look at their watches, but what I do not tolerate is when they look at it and raise it to their ear to find out if it stopped. — Marcel Achard
Warm-ups

Free Book: Quick Meeting Openers for Busy Managers

Quick Meeting Openers for Busy Managers: More Than 50 Icebreakers, Energizers, and Other Creative Activities That Get Results. 192 Pages | PDF | 13 MB

How effective a meeting will be depends on the tone set in the first few minutes…and it’s up to the person running it to set that tone. Quick Meeting Openers for [...]

06.12.10 | Leave a comment
Agendas

Meeting Recorder for Windows

XemiComputers Minutes Of Meeting Recorder
This program allows you to take meeting minutes through recording discussion and adding text summaries.The audio recorder built in the program saves each new recording as a separate section and offers real-time OGG audio compression and voice operated recording mode.It also features transcription playback mode, audio editor for making cut-outs, Exact [...]

06.12.10 | Leave a comment
Problem Solving

The Art of Complex Problem Solving

Check this out: The Art of Complex Problem Solving

05.14.10 | Leave a comment
Presenting Information

Try the Ignite Process for your Meetings

Ignite is a geek event in over 100 cities worldwide. But really it is a process for people to share ideas and perspectives. Presenters share their personal and professional passions. The format is simple: The presenter has only 5 minutes to use 20 slides that are auto-advanced every 15 seconds. I [...]

05.14.10 | Leave a comment
Tools

How Much Time Are Your Wasting?: Meeting Calculator

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04.08.10 | Leave a comment
Warm-ups

Making Connections

A warm-up for ideation sessions:

Purpose:
? Identify how things relate to one another
? Flex the creative muscles

Time estimate: 3-5 minutes
Suggested group size: 2-15 people

Step #1 The leader thinks of two everyday objects or situations.
Step #2 The leader fills in the blank using the two chosen objects or
situations: “What do [the object or situation] and [the other [...]

11.24.09 | Leave a comment
Group Decision Making

Thumbs: Decision Making

This group decision making tool enable your group to get a quick sense of everyone’s perspective spending less time in conversation.

Purpose: To determine the level of support for a decision in order to achieve consensus. To find out what is missing or standing in the way of consensus.

1.            Clearly state the proposed solution or decision [...]

11.06.09 | Leave a comment
Generating Ideas

Nominal Group Technique For Generating Ideas Anonymously

Purpose: Generate ideas anonymously
Time estimate: 15 or more minutes
Supplies needed: One flip chart and markers, index cards, and writing instrument (all with same color ink)
Suggested group size: 4-15 people

Step #1 Give the group a challenge question. Ask for any clarifying questions. Designate someone to serve as the recorder.

Step #2 Hand out blank index cards [...]

11.04.09 | Leave a comment