Introduction
Here are some simple tips for getting the most out of meetings, relevant to collectives, committees and action groups.
Do you spend a lot of your life in meetings?
Or does it just feel like it?!
Meetings are a big part of working collectively but too often… they suck. One of the things that motivated me to become an activist educator and facilitator was frustration with boring and unproductive meetings. Life’s too short and the stakes are too high to spend time like that.
Tips for Better Activist Meetings
1. Have a clear purpose
Why are you holding the meeting? Why is it needed and what do you intend to get out of it?
Make sure the purpose is clear to participants. If you can’t figure out the purpose don’t have a meeting!
2. Set an agenda
Have a clear process for setting the agenda whether in advance or on the day. The purpose of each item should be clear, such as discussion, decision, or a notice for information. Proposal led decision-making could involve people putting something on the agenda with a pre-prepared motion for the group to discuss and decide upon. This means people have notice of what’s expected prior to the meeting and can think about it and ask questions.
3. Include an agenda review
Talk through the agenda at the beginning of the meeting. Ensure items are in a logical order, allocate times to each item, trim the agenda and defer less pressing discussions if needed.
Less is more – avoid overloading your meetings to allow more space for quality discussion.
4. Make the agenda visible to everyone
The agenda could be written on the whiteboard during the agenda review, or paper copies handed out. Making the agenda visible, especially with approximate times attached, means everyone has a sense of how long to spend discussing items, and the implications if they go too long. This means the chair carries less of the burden of time management and it is shared more in the group.
5. Summarise actions
At the end of each agenda item check for actions and what needs to be recorded. This is helpful for the minutes-taker, means things don’t get missed, and underlines actions for those who are going to carry them out. At the end of the meeting I suggest an actions check-list where each person says what their actions are coming out of the meeting and the minutes-taker can remind people of any that were missed.
Saying tasks out loud can deepen commitment to the group to follow through.
6. Record actions
Keep an ongoing action list for the group. Individuals should also record their own actions in diaries, phone calendars, to do lists etc. This can make it more likely that people will carry out their actions, rather than relying on people to read the minutes (which some people only do right before the meeting if ever!)
7. Roles
Most meetings have a meeting chair or facilitator and someone to take minutes. Some groups also have the role of timekeeper and ‘vibes-watcher’. The vibes-watcher keeps an eye on energy and mood on the group, can share observations and suggest different approaches eg ‘People look tired, perhaps we need an energiser or a quick break?’
8. Evaluate
At the end of the meeting do a quick check of what worked and what to change about the meeting. This allows people to name difficulties and for you to learn as a group how to make the meetings go better.
9. Build the group
Meetings aren’t just about ticking off tasks; they’re about the relationships between the people in the group.
Some ways you can foster the sense of the group and focus people include:
- Start with an opening round where participants can share what’s new in their lives (not just in relation to the organisation) or a check-in (how they are feeling, any issues impacting on participation). One fun and cheesy way to check-in is to use a metaphor for how you are eg ‘If I was a plate of food I’d be…’ (or a piece of music, landscape, etc)
- Personalise the space, making a home for your group. This is especially important if you meet somewhere that’s not your own space. It could be as simple as a table-cloth or a poster on the wall.
- Put up your vision, mission, values, campaign goals or group agreements in the space. Remind people of why they work together, what they share in terms of commitment to the group and its vision.
- Share food. It’s a universal human way of relating! Plus a few snacks maintain energy.
Happy meeting!
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