Thursday, May 5, 2016

Meeting Management.
I was just reminded of how important it is to establish ground rules for meetings, to display them clearly, and ask all the participants to agree to them.  

Here's some sample ground rules:

Meeting participants and leaders commit to:
• Treat everyone with respect:  We will express our opinions responsibly, focusing on the issues and not on personal differences, and speak both honestly and kindly. 
• Prepare adequately for the meeting and participate fully.  We will have read, reviewed or examined pertinent documents, gathered information or input, or simply assessed our own thoughts and ideas prior to the meeting.
• Not interrupt each other.  We recognize that we all interrupt at times by mistake or to build on others. statements. However, we will strive to allow each person the space to finish his or her thoughts.
• Express ourselves completely and concisely. This norm recognizes the value of each other's input and time.
• Engage each other's thoughts, ideas and opinions. We recognize the value and richness of a meeting when everyone has a chance to participate. This norm also includes gracious acceptance of opinions different from our own.
• Stay focused on the topic under discussion. We will stay focused on the agreed upon topics unless the group makes a conscious decision to alter the agenda.
• Start and end meetings on time and arrive at meetings punctually.  We need to respect each other's time. The people who are present at the announced time should start without waiting for anyone not yet present.
  
Source:
http://extension.ucdavis.edu/unit/common_ground/pdf/more_effective_meetings.pdf

Here's another variation, titled "Meeting Norms"

  • We will keep our time commitments
  • We will be civil
  • Every idea is a good idea
  • No interrupting
  • We will be inclusive, not exclusive
  • We will bring a commitment to work
  • We will keep to the agenda
     Time keeper
     Facilitator
     Off topic items noted
     Note taker