main meeting

According to the kind of meeting, the organization and style of direction will change.

Meetings could be oriented to:

  1. informative purposes;
  2. problem solving;
  3. exploration of options;
  4. decision making;
  5. kick-off.;

How would you organize a meeting of type 1, 2, … 5 and how would the modality of direction change?

INFORMATIVE PURPOSES - The team leader or the team members inform on a specific issue.
Organization: Front presentation.
Direction: Vertical (The presenter speaks , the others listen)

PROBLEM SOLVING - Typically, the owner of the problem presents the situation, the problem itself and the possible scenarios; the other members of the team listen and then consult each other and give advice.
Organization: First, front presentation by the owner of the problem; later, interactive discussion with everybody.
Direction: facilitation of the process, trying to assure active listening during the first phase, and involvement of all during the second phase.

EXPLORATION OF OPTIONS - The team has to develop suggestions and new ideas.
Organization: Brain storming session.
Direction: facilitation of the process, non-evaluating approach, but welcoming, encouraging and stimulating approach.

DECISION-MAKING - The team decides on a certain matter. The decisional power can vary. The modality of decision-making has to be set from the start (see next module).
Organization: A person presents the matter on which to decide. Missing information for the decision-making process is integrated. Following is a vote, carried out according to the arranged modality.
Direction: horizontal, trying to involve everyone in the process

KICK OFF - The team gathers for the first time. This meeting helps to get to know each other and the job, to define the objective and the modality with which to pursue it.
Organization: A person presents the matter on which to decide. Missing information for the decision-making process isintegrated. Following is a vote, carried out according to the arranged modality.
Direction: The less the team members know each other, and the longest they are together as a team, the wider the space for inter-relation has to be.