8 Summary

Using the ideas from this week should help you to run or participate in meetings more effectively. However, it is worth remembering that life is sometimes messier than the theory suggests, so even the best planned meetings may run into trouble from time to time. What people thought was a straightforward problem may be more complex: there may be a personality clash, someone the meeting is depending on may not have done the work they said they would do, or everyone is tired and not able to give their best.

However, you are much more likely to have a good meeting if it is well planned and people are prepared – just do not expect it to be perfect. If the business usually gets done in the time available, if decisions get made and are acted upon, attendance is good and there is a productive atmosphere, then it is likely the meetings are good enough.

In Week 6, you have learned to:

• explain the advantages and disadvantages of meetings
• describe different types of meeting
• understand how good preparation can help meetings go well
• describe different ways of chairing meetings
• feel more confident in taking part in meetings
• understand different ways of recording and following up on meetings.

Next week you will explore how people work in teams and why partnerships between organisations are important.

You can now go to Week 7 [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] .