Meetings are a cornerstone of how we collaborate, strategize, and make decisions as teams and organizations. Yet, too often, they leave us frustrated and feeling like we've wasted our time. The good news? Once you've set clear objectives, you can apply a few simple facilitation techniques to make your meetings more engaging, productive, and meaningful.
In this summary, we'll explore practical facilitation techniques to help you maximize the time and energy your team invests in meetings. Whether you're struggling with planning, keeping people engaged, or achieving clear outcomes, these tips will help you get more out of every meeting.
Key Takeaways
- Start with strong housekeeping: Clear agendas, established norms, and tools like "parking lots" create the foundation for meeting your objectives
- Use intentional opening and closing activities: Warm-up questions build engagement and psychological safety, while check-out questions reinforce learning and provide valuable feedback to you as a leader.
- Apply adult learning principles: Draw on participants' experiences and knowledge to create meaningful discussions and lasting impact.
- Vary engagement techniques: Incorporate different discussion formats, interactive activities, and debrief methods to increase participation and enhance learning.
Start with Clear Housekeeping
Before your meeting even begins, set yourself up for success:
- Share the objective and agenda in advance.
- Establish norms with input from the group, then review them at the start of the meeting.
- Use tools like a "parking lot" to keep the discussion on track and ensure follow-ups for off-topic ideas.
Examples of Norms:
- "Take space, make space" (encouraging balanced participation).
- Use "I" statements for accountability.
- "Nourish Yourself" (a lighthearted reminder that people can do what they need to stay present—like standing, grabbing a snack, or taking a quick break).
Warm-Up Questions: Break the Ice and Build Engagement