Hi Barb,

I was 25 years old and working for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as a hydrogeologist. My engineer colleague Mark and I had spent the day taking water samples from private wells at homes very near a landfill rumored to have accepted hazardous waste. Actually, the rumor was true.

Still dressed in our field clothes and having no time for supper, Mark and I drove to the local high school, where we had been invited to attend a public meeting. 

Seeing all the cars, Mark joked, "it's going to be a hot time in the old town tonight."  He backed our state car into a parking space to hide the red state license plate and ensure a quick escape, if needed.

Mark and I had understood that we would be observers in the audience. The township president, Lois, had other plans. She led us on stage and pointed to a couple wooden chairs next to the podium.

On the other side of the podium, the landfill owner and his VP sat looking apprehensive. The room was filling with serious-looking people, murmuring. 

Lois, a former school teacher, gaveled the room to silence. 

She explained, "We are here to learn about the landfill, There will be a presentation by the landfill's consultants, a response from the DNR and then a time for questions from the audience."

Mark and I looked at each other and drew low, sharp breaths. It felt like an ambush. (Decades later, I still shake a little.)  

In a you-know-I-mean-business school-teacher voice, Lois continued, "Anyone who wants to ask a question will get in line behind the microphone. One person will be allowed to speak at a time, and only for 3 minutes. No exceptions. Anyone who shouts will be asked to leave. We were here to get answers, not to riot."  

And with Lois at the helm, it unfolded as she said. The meeting lasted 3 hours. It was hot but orderly.  

Lois's presence and skill as a facilitator were impressive -- she deserved an A. I'd only dock her a couple points because she failed to share the meeting agenda with us ahead of time. Clearly, she had both planned ahead and knew how to keep people focused and on track. 

At any rate, that was when I knew I, as a scientist, had a lot to learn about running effective, efficient meetings. And that's why I share what I've learned with you.  

Want more focused and productive meetings?  Save time by planning them well. Check out our upcoming workshop, below! 

Warmly,

Barb Bickford

From Confusion to Clarity:
Plan Effective and Focused Meetings in 20 Minutes 
-- online, Wednesday June 12, Noon central time (90 minutes or less)

Your meetings may not be as hot as the one I describe above, but even mundane meetings can benefit from pre-planning that is distilled into a clear agenda. If you want to make your meetings more focused and productive, mark your calendar now for June 16th at noon Central time. You will learn the key elements of planning an effective meeting.  Come prepared to plan one of your own upcoming meetings and receive relevant feedback. 

Registration opens on June 4th.  Learn more here or, if you know you want to come, simply reply to this email and we'll make sure to notify you when registration opens. 

Better Communication for more Effective Healthcare 
-- online, Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 4-20, 2024

Last call! Learn simple and effective concepts that help you before and during any conversation-- whether with patients, with people you report to and supervise, or with your peers. If you work in healthcare or are affiliated with healthcare, this course is for you! Learn more and register here.   

Recent blog posts
-- 4 Ways to Refocus Your Meetings
-- Brush Up Your Meeting Preparation

Our current workshops and courses

4 ways to increase focus in your meetings

We've all been there - a meeting that drags on without a clear objective or agenda, discussions that veer off-topic, and disengaged participants checking their phones. Meetings like this lack focus, efficiency, productivity and collaboration. 

Some would shrug their shoulders and say "That is just the way meetings are."

I disagree. We CAN refocus meetings to align and engage those who are there. How?

• Clarify the purpose upfront so everyone understands the desired outcome
• Set a detailed action-oriented agenda to keep the discussion on track
• Facilitate actively by redirecting wandering conversations
• Minimize distractions and invite thoughtful participation

For more on these 4 strategies to increase focus in your meetings, read this blog post.  

In our upcoming workshop, From Confusion to Clarity: Plan Effective and Focused Meetings in 20 Minutes, we'll show you how to plan meetings that save you time and give your group energy instead of draining it.  Reply to this email now if you want to be sure to get one of the seats in this workshop!

Want even more tips? Access Ten Tips to Foster Online Engagement.

If you were forwarded this newsletter email, you may subscribe here.
You can also sign up for topics you want to hear more about.