Running Great Meetings and Workshops For Dummies

Run engaging, productive group sessions with practical guidance and expert advice Running Great Workshops & Meetings For Dummies delivers the tools managers need to facilitate engaging and rewarding group sessions. Written by two highly experienced leadership and coaching consultants, this book provides practical, hands-on instruction that can help you turn your meetings and training sessions around. Boost productivity by engaging attendees from the start, scheduling with time and energy levels in mind and keeping to a clear agenda. You'll learn the skills that will help you get the most out of every group session and discover which seemingly small details can have a huge impact on outcomes. The current global recession has increased the emphasis organisations place on skills development and training throughout the world. While specialised service organisations exist, many companies lack the means to outsource their training needs or invest in specially trained staff to get the job done. Running Great Workshops & Meetings For Dummies presents a solution by providing clear group leadership instruction with immediate applications to employees in any department. Regardless of the type of meeting, training session or workshop you're running, this book provides the information you need. Learn to align outcomes and objectives, establish an agenda and schedule and manage pre-work for attendees Discover how to connect with the group, establish expectations and set ground rules Find out how to set the pace, manage challenges and objections and troubleshoot issues Effectively evaluate the session, ensure accountability and maintain momentum Running Great Workshops & Meetings For Dummies provides practical advice you can put to work today.

Run engaging, productive group sessions with practical guidance and expert adviceRunning Great Workshops & Meetings For Dummies delivers the tools managers need to facilitate engaging and rewarding group sessions. Written by two highly experienced leadership and coaching consultants, this book provides practical, hands-on instruction that can help you turn your meetings and training sessions around. Boost productivity by engaging attendees from the start, scheduling with time and energy levels in mind and keeping to a clear agenda. You'll learn the skills that will help you get the most out of every group session and discover which seemingly small details can have a huge impact on outcomes.The current global recession has increased the emphasis organisations place on skills development and training throughout the world. While specialised service organisations exist, many companies lack the means to outsource their training needs or invest in specially trained staff to get the job done. Running Great Workshops & Meetings For Dummies presents a solution by providing clear group leadership instruction with immediate applications to employees in any department. Regardless of the type of meeting, training session or workshop you're running, this book provides the information you need.* Learn to align outcomes and objectives, establish an agenda and schedule and manage pre-work for attendees* Discover how to connect with the group, establish expectations and set ground rules* Find out how to set the pace, manage challenges and objections and troubleshoot issues* Effectively evaluate the session, ensure accountability and maintain momentumRunning Great Workshops & Meetings For Dummies provides practical advice you can put to work today.

Introduction 1Part I: Getting Started with Meetings and Workshops 7Chapter 1: The Business Case for Better Meetings and Workshops9Chapter 2: Planning Your Meeting 21Chapter 3: Planning Your Workshop 47Chapter 4: Getting Ready for the Big Day 77Part II: Running Great Group Sessions 105Chapter 5: Handling the Start of Your Session 107Chapter 6: Continuing Your Meeting or Workshop 135Chapter 7: Dealing with the Tough Stuff: Troubleshooting 161Chapter 8: Handling What Happens Next 189Part III: Building Your Skills 207Chapter 9: Building Participants' Knowledge and Practise209Chapter 10: Running Focus Groups 233Chapter 11: Taking It to the Next Level 253Chapter 12: Running Remote or Virtual Meetings and Workshops285Part IV: The Part of Tens 307Chapter 13: Ten Common Mistakes on the Day 309Chapter 14: Ten Things You Have to Do When the Pressure Is On317Index 325