Generally, running effective meetings involves actions before, during, and after meetings. Before meetings, the meeting leader should provide clear expectations for meeting participants $-$ what they should have done prior to the meeting and what they can expect in terms of content and length of the meeting. Once the meeting arrives, you have several options for achieving productive outcomes: set expectations and follow the agenda, keep the discussion focused on agenda items and stick to allotted times, encourage participation and expression of ideas, and build consensus and a plan of action. In some meetings, meeting leaders must also deal with difficult people$-$those meeting participants who consistently display negative attitudes, refuse to participate, or otherwise hinder the productivity of the meeting. Meeting leaders must find ways to redirect meetings to focus on a clear agenda, goals, and roles. Someone should keep minutes of the meeting and distribute them following the meeting.

This activity is important because you will likely participate and even lead hundreds if not thousands of meetings during your career. Few professionals think carefully about how to run an effective meetings. Learning and applying basic principles for running effective meetings will help you get things done in teams much more efficiently and build your professional credibility.

The goal of this activity is to demonstrate your understanding of principles for running effective meetings.

Group the actions associated with managing meetings to the principles for running effective meetings that the items best represent. Move each label to the correct drop zone box. The notes button next to a label provides more information.

Labels

$($i$)$

Sends out an agenda

Develops an action plan

Requests priorities

Drop Zones

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Setting clear expectations ahead of the meeting $(\frac{1}{6})$

Sticking to the agenda $(2/6)$ the meeting $(\frac{1}{6})$

Encouraging participation and expression of ideas $(3/6)$