Q. "How do I make meetings less painful and arduous?"
Answer:
Meeting should be positive, not painstaking. Here are four easy ways to improve your meetings:
1. Define Your Purpose
Before you even schedule a meeting, ask: "What are we hoping to accomplish?" Identify a clear, actionable outcome. If the purpose isn't clear or connected to your mission, maybe a meeting isn't necessary. Once you have a clear purpose, include it in your agenda and send to participants prior to the meeting.
2. Create a Plan
Establish a consistent and cohesive structure to your meeting. Write a detailed agenda, determine how much time to spend on each item and what tools or equipment you will need. Assign different team members to lead sections and next steps, creating buy-in and accountability.
3. Stay Focused
Eliminate side conversations and rabbit trails. Every piece of information shared should directly contribute to the meeting's purpose. And, as leaders, resist the urge to talk too much. Instead, listen and facilitate!
4. Determine Action Items
Solidify achievable next steps for any objectives (complete with deadlines), and assign each to a point person to make sure they get done. Schedule future follow-up meetings at this time to ensure accountability and a defined timeline.
By implementing these simple yet powerful adjustments, you can transform meetings into focused, productive gatherings that genuinely support your ministry's mission and empower your team.