Four Tips to Effective MeetingsSample

Four Tips to Effective Meetings - Part III

Priya Parker, author of the book The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters, shared in a Wall Street Journal article four tips on conducting effective meetings. So far in this plan, we have looked at these tips: set the stage and let everyone see and be seen. The third tip deals with rules for pop-up issues. 

Ms. Parker recommends using creative or amusing rules for unexpected pop-up issues that can sidetrack your meeting. These rules can force compliance while allowing the group to have fun. 

Ms. Parker gave an example. She was leading a meeting that executives kept disrupting by returning from breaks late. She announced that ten push-ups would be their future consequence for late arrivals. This became a fun penalty while encouraging promptness.

Hebrews 13:17 teaches, "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief."

For effective, streamlined meetings, establish rules when necessary, but make them fun when possible.

Questions for Reflection:  

• Have you ever sat in a meeting where the facilitator did not keep on track? What was your experience? Did your view of the facilitator change?  
• Why do you think fun rules are more effective than harsh ones? Can you think of several fun rules for pop-up issues aside from Ms. Parker’s ten push-ups?  
• Tardiness, interrupting others, and steering the topic off-course could require some rules. What are some other pop-up situations or circumstances that might require fun rules?