Making Meetings Work: How to Get Started

Are you attending more meetings and getting less done?

Even with our busy schedules, meetings can be a productive use of time when we follow some simple guidelines. Based on her work with thousands of educators, meetings expert Ann Delehant′s indispensable guide is packed with tools, strategies, tips, and ideas that fit the unique context of schools, learning communities, and instructional leaders.

Offering step-by-step planning processes designed for principals, teacher leaders, staff developers, and trainers, this book provides guidelines for determining whether to have a meeting, helping groups work together to make decisions, and developing action plans. Demonstrating how effective meetings can sustain commitment and support, this excellent facilitation handbook covers:

• Planning a meeting and building the agenda
• Considering innovative alternatives to traditional meetings
• Using energizers and other ideas for engaging and motivating groups
• Determining "who" gets to make "what" decisions
• Establishing norms and procedures for efficient use of time

School leaders, school improvement and grade-level teams, and school boards will find this a dynamic resource to help groups work toward collaboration and change the environment and school community culture for the better!