Page 5 - Leadership Basics 10

Foreword

Meetings are a regular source of complaint in many schools and Leaders. Some people think that if
they can string two words together coherently, they are capable of running meetings, and that is
where the problem starts, because meetings are thought to be forums for talking when, in many
cases, they should be about action ‐ doing things.
How often have we heard the cry that everything is talked about, but nothing ever happens. If this is
your school, department or unit, then you will find it difficult to convince teachers that meetings
serve any purpose other than that of using up valuable time.
The aims of this booklet are:
 To examine the reasons why some meetings are more successful than others.

 To identify the behaviour which best contributes to the effectiveness of meetings.
 To consider what can be done to make school meetings more effective

After a look at some of shortcomings of meetings, we examine some guidelines for conducting
effective and productive meetings. In particular, we consider what you should do before, during and
after the meeting. Good preparation and follow‐up action are essential, as it is your behaviour during
the meeting itself which counts. We then look at some matters related to setting up the right
conditions, including the issues of attendance and the physical setting. Finally, we provide some
guidelines which will help you improve the meetings for which you are responsible.

First, it is useful to get a rough impression of your present level of ability in running meetings. If you
actually organise and lead them, however infrequently, complete the questionnaire ‘How Well Do I
Run Meetings’?

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