Four Key Questions for More Effective Meetings |
The three core competencies that I believe any manager should have are the ability to speak persuasively, the ability to write clearly, and the ability to facilitate a productive meeting.
Of the three, the skill that is most frequently neglected is meeting facilitation. Yet one could argue that it is the most important of these three core competencies. This is because our success depends on bringing together people with competing priorities and convincing them to agree on an issue and, more importantly, to turn that agreement into action.
The reason many managers are ineffective facilitators is that they focus on the meeting itself and do not realize that the meeting is part of a process. Today I'd like to focus on the first part of the facilitation process: the agenda.
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Disaster Preparedness Series
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This is the final video in the Golden Gate Regional Center Disaster Preparedness video series for the developmentally disabled. This video shows how to convert your "to do" list into performance objectives that can be used to improve any program. |
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Greetings!
Welcome to the January issue of Emergency Management Solutions. This month I'd like to share some of my secrets for facilitating effective meetings. I believe that facilitating effective meetings is one of our core competencies. Unfortunately, it's one that is frequently neglected and few of us receive formal training in it. This month's white paper covers ideas on developing an agenda and an agenda template. I hope you find it useful! My monthly newsletter is a great way to keep in touch but you're not getting full value if you're not also signed up for my blog. I usually try to blog twice a week, so don't miss out! You can sign up on my blog site Canton on Emergency Management. 
If you are having trouble viewing my featured article, try clicking on the link at the top of the page. Alternatively, you can always find my white paper on my blog site, Canton on Emergency Management. |
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Regards,
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Professional Development "What skills do I need to be an emergency manager?" This is a question I'm asked fairly regularly in both professional and personal settings. My answer always surprises my listener: - You must be able to write clearly and coherently
- You must be able to give a persuasive oral presentation
- You must be able to facilitate an effective meeting that brings resolution to the issue under discussion
But what about...? Go ahead and insert your favorite skill or knowledge. It doesn't matter. The three basic skills I've listed are, in my opinion, at the heart of everything we do. Other skils are important and useful but if you can't communicate clearly with peers, subordinates, and superiors it really doesn't matter, does it? So give some thought to honing your skills. Take a course, read a book, practice in front of a mirror - whatever it takes. Without these basics, you're just not being effective. |
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Life Balance
A few years ago I was in a meeting with my financial advisor and she asked me about my annual plan. I started to ramble on about my business plan but she stopped me. "I know about your business plans," she said. "What's your plan?" She then proceeded to give me one of the best pieces of advice I have ever received. My advisor suggested that my annual plan had to have four basic components. The first part consisted of my business goals, which were fairly well defined. Second were my financial goals for the year. Again, this was pretty straight forward. She then asked my about my professional development goals, something I had never really thought about. I didn't have any specific goals. Like many of us, I just went along with the flow. Her point was that you couldn't really do well in business if you didn't continue to improve, so professional development was as important as busines and financial goals. The real "ah ha!" moment, though, was when she asked me about personal development goals. These had nothing to do with my business or my profession but everything to do with my life. What was I going to do for me in the new year? What new skills did I want to acquire? What new experiences did I want? Too often we focus so much on our work that we forget to take time out for ourselves and our families. So as you build your plans for this year, remember that it's not all about work and make room for some personal development as well. |
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From the Bookshelf
Are you one of those presenters who use lengthy bullet point lists? Think there might be a better way of getting your point across without making your audience comatose? There is! Check out Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Design and Delivery by Garr Reynolds. The premise of the book is that more is less. Reynolds takes you through developing and designing your presentation in a step-by-step approach, drawing on the talents of other well-known speakers and using plenty of examples. He demonstrates that simplicity of design can actually help your audience remember your key points better. Check it out - you'll never be satisfied with your old presentation style again! |
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Looking for a Speaker?
Need a speaker for your next conference? I offer keynotes, seminars and workshops. You can find more details on my website or on my SpeakerMixpage.
 | | Lucien Canton Seminar Excerpts |
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If you've heard me speak...
...I'd greatly appreciate it if you would take a minute to give me feedback on SpeakerMix. Just go to the site and click on the "Write A Review" button. Many thanks! |
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