Running Effective Meetings (REM101)

Sitting through a long meeting where participants get side-tracked and issues don’t get resolved isn’t a good use of anyone’s time. With this course, you will learn how to get results from a meeting, whether that involves solving problems, brainstorming, or sharing information. The class keys to productivity, the functions of a meeting leader, how to develop and practice techniques for handling counterproductive behaviors. By the end of this course, you will be ready to run effective meetings with confidence!

1. Meeting Purpose
   1. Activity: Purpose Statement
2. Planning and Preparing (Part One)
   1. Identifying the Participants
   2. Activity: Meeting Participants
   3. Choosing the Time and Place
   4. Activity: Time and Place
   5. Creating the Agenda
   6. Example Agenda
   7. Activity: Agenda
   8. Review Questions
3. Planning and Preparing (Part Two)
   1. Gathering Materials
   2. Activity: Materials
   3. Sending Invitations
   4. Activity: Three "P" Job Aid
   5. Making Logistical Arrangements
   6. Case Study
   7. Review Questions
4. Microsoft Outlook and Meetings
5. Change Your Calendar View
   1. Schedule View
6. Set Up Availability Status
   1. Change the Calendar's Time Zone
   2. Local Weather Forecast
   3. Activity: Setting Up Your Calendar
7. Print Your Schedule
8. Share Your Calendar
9. Schedule a Meeting
   1. Schedule Resources
   2. Set Calendar Item Importance
   3. Schedule a Meeting from a Message
10. Make Updates to Meetings
    1. Add Participants
11. Cancel a Meeting
12. Reply to a Meeting Invitation
13. Schedule an Appointment
14. Create Calendar Groups
15. Delete a Calendar
16. Work with Calendar Items
    1. Forward an Item
    2. Set Item Importance
    3. Configure a Reminder
    4. Search Your Calendar
    5. Share Meeting Notes
17. Create and Add Calendars
    1. Activity: Scheduling a Meeting
18. Setting up the Meeting Space
    1. The Basic Essentials
    2. The Extra Touches
    3. Choosing a Physical Arrangement
    4. Activity: Meeting Setup
    5. Practice Scenario
    6. Review Questions
19. Electronic Options
    1. Overview of Choices Available
    2. Things to Consider
    3. Making a Final Decision
    4. Engagement in Virtual Meetings
    5. Activity: Electronic Meetings
    6. Review Questions
20. Meeting Roles and Responsibilities
    1. The Chairperson
    2. The Minute Taker
    3. The Attendees
    4. Variations for Large and Small Meetings
    5. Case Study
    6. Review Questions
21. Chairing a Meeting (I)
    1. Getting Off on the Right Foot
    2. Activity: Meeting Opening
    3. The Role of the Agenda
    4. Using a Parking Lot
    5. Case Study
    6. Review Questions
22. Chairing a Meeting (II)
    1. Keeping the Meeting on Track
    2. Dealing with Overtime
    3. Holding Participants Accountable
    4. Positive Meeting Environment
    5. Case Study
    6. Review Questions
23. Dealing Challenging Meeting Behavior
    1. Running in and Out
    2. Cell Phones Ringing
    3. Off on a Tangent
    4. Dealing with Conflict
    5. Case Study
    6. Challenging Meeting Personalities
    7. Activity: Using Assertive Communication
24. Taking Minutes
    1. What are Minutes?
    2. What do I Record?
    3. A Take-Home Template
    4. Meeting Follow Up Email
    5. Review Questions
25. Making the Most of Your Meeting
    1. The 50 Minute Meeting
    2. Activity: Reducing Meeting Time
    3. Using Games
    4. Giving Prizes
    5. Stuffed Magic
    6. Case Study
    7. Review Questions
26. Meeting Process and Content
    1. Problem Solving Meetings
    2. Tools for Defining the Problem
       • Root-Cause Analysis
       • Diagramming
       • The Six Ws
    3. Activity: Creating a Fishbone Diagram
       • Shift Your Perspective
       • Challenge Assumptions: Restate the Issue
    4. What Is the Best Solution?
    5. Occam's Razor: Why the Simplest Solution Is Usually the Best
    6. Occam's Razor Example
    7. Brainstorming Meetings
    8. Decision Making Meetings
    9. Activity: Processes and Content for Meetings
27. Wrapping Up
28. Words from the Wise

Each student receives a comprehensive set of materials, including course notes and all class examples.