Signs of the Times
We firmly believe that a meeting room should look
like a meeting room. And one way to accomplish this is to keep signs
posted that remind all participants about key elements of good meetings.
In our meeting rooms we have about 10 signs, each
printed as large as we can with our printers on colorful paper, and then
laminated.
Note: these are ideas for signs you
might put up in your meeting room. Because we don't know what size
you need, they appear here in small versions. Our suggestion is that
you copy these into a word process and then increase the size and pizazz
as you wish.
If you don't have time
to prepare for a meeting,
you don't have time for
a meeting.
Closing Questions
1. Who will do what by when?
2. Who will communicate to whom?
3. What will be communicated
regarding today’s decisions?
4. What are the next steps?
Consensus
Every member can say:
nI believe
that you understand my point of view and that I understand yours.
nWhether
or not I prefer this decision, I support it because
•It was reached fairly and openly
•It is the best solution at this time
Presume Good Intentions
The Facilitator
•remains neutral
•focuses group energy
•keeps group on task
•directs processes
•encourages participation
•elicits clarity
When a group is stuck......
-
What’s stopping us from making
a decision?
-
Can we ask someone to make
this decision for us later?
-
Who would be willing to meet
and develop a proposal for next time?
-
Shall we ask for more information
before next time?
Five Stages of Change
-
Accepting the Existing Condition
-
Owning the Problem
-
Owning the Solution
-
Implementing the Plan
-
Monitoring/Evaluating the Processes and Progress
The Focusing Four
1. Brainstorm
2. Clarify
3. Advocate
4. Survey
"First seek to understand, then to be understood"
Stephen Covey
People support what they
help create.
You can delegate authority,
but you can't delegate responsibiltiy.
People are more likely
to carry out decisions when they have committed themselves publicly.
Less Is More
Compromise is not consensus
You can spend the energy now,
or you can spend even more energy later!
Group processes take
more
time up front and less time after the decision
Voting enables groups
to spend less time on the front end of a proposal, but more time will be
spent during implementation.
Sharpen the Saw
Give up power
to extend your influence
Decide Who Decides
-
An individual or group above you, such
as the Headmaster
-
Administrator unilaterally
-
Administrator with input
-
Administrator and staff by consensus
-
Staff, with input from administrator
-
Staff by consensus
-
Staff by vote
-
Subgroup of staff with input from others
-
Subgroup of staff unilaterally
-
Parents and community
-
Students
Some Good Naïve Questions
1. How much detail do we need to move this item?
2. Who is making this decision?
3. What is the process for making this decision?
4. Who will do what by when?
5. I’m trying to understand: Is this a matter of
principle or a matter of preference?
6. What conditions might cause us not to follow through
on these agreements?
7. How will we know when we are successful?
8. Is there something we’ve not talking about that is
keeping us stuck?
Five Energy Sources for Change
Efficacy
Flexibility
Craftsmanship
Consciousness
Interdependence
The Seven Norms of Collaboration
Pausing
Paraphrasing
Probing for specificity
Putting ideas on the table
Paying attention to self and others
Presuming positive intentions
Pursuing a balance between advocacy and inquiry
Four questions that need
asking prior to a successful meeting
1. Who decides?
2. What topics are ours?
3. How should the environment be arranged?
4. What are the meeting standards and
norms?
Five Finger Survey
***** Enthusiastic Supporter...a cheerleader
**** In favor of the proposal
*** Neutral
** Against
the proposal, but will go along for the good of the group
*
Strongly against; cannot support (blocks consensus) |