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What is a Meeting?

Meeting

A meeting is a gathering of one or more people that share a common purpose.
Definition
Daniel Wirtz
Daniel Wirtz
Co-Founder, Facilitator School
Last updated
June 14, 2024

Meetings, encompassing everything from brief face-to-face meetings to extensive workshops, play a crucial role in collaboration and decision-making across organizations. By bringing together multiple individuals who share a common goal or purpose, meetings provide a structured environment where ideas, strategies, and objectives can be communicated and discussed.

Effective meetings capitalize on the collective intelligence of the group, fostering an atmosphere where diverse thoughts and perspectives contribute towards achieving a common outcome. The discussion and interactions during these gatherings help in uncovering new insights, clarifying doubts, and ensuring all participants are aligned towards the desired objectives. Ensuring the productive flow of these sessions often requires skillful facilitation, which is critical in steering the meeting towards constructive outcomes while mitigating any potential conflicts or misunderstandings.

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Meeting

What is the typical structure of a meeting?

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A typical meeting structure might include an introduction or check-in, a main discussion phase, and a conclusion or check-out. Each part plays a crucial role in ensuring the meeting is effective. Setting ground rules early on can help manage expectations and maintain focus throughout the meeting.

What are the different types of popular work meetings?

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Popular types of work meetings include standup meetings, board meetings, brainstorming sessions, and retrospectives. Each type serves different purposes, from daily team alignment to strategic decision-making and creative problem-solving.

What is meeting creep?

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Meeting creep refers to the phenomenon where meetings start to take up more time than originally scheduled or necessary, often encroaching on the time allocated for other productive tasks. This can be countered by practices like timeboxing to keep discussions on track.

How can you improve a meeting?

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Improving a meeting often involves active facilitation, which includes strategies like clear agenda setting, encouraging active listening, and employing techniques like brainstorming or breakout sessions to make the meeting more engaging and productive.

What are the common challenges with running meetings?

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Common challenges include aligning diverse viewpoints, managing limited time effectively, and ensuring every participant has a voice. Tools such as dot voting can help in prioritizing issues and maintaining engagement throughout the session.

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