A short talk on better meeting design. Shared with South Dakota Home Address Network in September, 2013.

1. Designing Better
Meetings
“Meeting” doesn’t have to be a dirty word
Monday, September 23, 13

2. Better Meeting
Architecture
1. The invitation
2. A clear start
3. Dialogue in the middle
4. Action-packed finish
5. A good harvest
Monday, September 23, 13

3. 1. The Invitation
Why do we need a meeting? What is the
purpose?
What ground rules/agreements do we
need to propose?
Who do we need to invite? What would
make them want to show up?
What do we need to harvest?
What is the best way to invite?
Monday, September 23, 13

4. 2. A Clear Start
Check in--get every voice in the room
early
Review the agreements
Road map/agenda (steel and clay)
How was all this decided?
Monday, September 23, 13

5. 3. Dialogue in the Middle
Follow the agreements
Allow some quiet space to think/reflect
Break into 2 or 3 sometimes to work
things out and include more voices
Monday, September 23, 13

6. 4. Action-packed Finish
What have we decided?
What solutions were proposed that we
could decide on now?
What questions still remain?
What do we need to do next to keep
momentum going?
When must it be done? Who is taking
responsibility?
Monday, September 23, 13

7. 5. A Good Harvest
Who is creating it?
How will we share it? By when?
Who needs it?
Monday, September 23, 13

8. Make a Template.
(and use it)
Monday, September 23, 13