Time Management In An Instant

42Strengthen Your Meeting Facilitation Skills

According to a 2005 study on meetings published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, goal-oriented staff report that their job satisfaction goes down as the number of meetings they attend goes up! Don’t just sit back and play the passive part of monitor for the meetings you chair. Instead, take on the proactive role of facilitator by doing the following:

Direct the Discussion

Rather than allowing the meeting to veer off into a variety of different directions—based on individual agendas and random streams of consciousness—keep the group focused and on track by gently guiding them towards the stated purpose and agenda of the meeting. If the discussion wanders, try saying:

“We have gotten a bit off ...