Communication & Interpersonal Skills

It's More Than the Agenda | Managing Effective Meetings

Make every meeting meaningful, productive and worthwhile.

Meetings should be productive, purposeful and worth everyone's time. This practical 12-hour course helps participants plan, organize and lead effective meetings, from preparing a meaningful agenda to encouraging constructive participation and following up on decisions and actions.

12-Hour Instructor-Led Training Program
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About This Course

Meetings are an essential part of business life, yet too often they are seen as unproductive, frustrating or a waste of valuable time. Effective meetings require more than simply bringing people together and working through an agenda.

This practical course helps participants develop the confidence and skills needed to organize, contribute to and lead successful meetings. From establishing clear objectives and preparing an agenda to encouraging participation and managing difficult situations, participants explore what makes meetings genuinely worthwhile.

Through self-assessment, discussion and practical activities, participants learn how to overcome common meeting challenges, apply appropriate meeting etiquette and follow up effectively on decisions and agreed actions. The aim is to make meetings more focused, efficient and rewarding for everyone involved.

Learning Objectives

This course is designed to help participants:

  1. Increase confidence when attending and participating in meetings.
  2. Prepare effectively and contribute constructively to meeting discussions.
  3. Develop the skills needed to organize and lead productive, effective meetings.
  4. Understand and apply appropriate meeting etiquette.
  5. Create clear, purposeful agendas and use them to guide meetings efficiently.

Topics Covered

  • Self-assessment of your meeting planning and leadership skills
  • Understanding why meetings are necessary and what makes them worthwhile
  • The fundamentals of effective meetings: what works and what does not
  • Planning and organizing productive meetings
  • Identifying barriers to effective meetings
  • Managing challenging participants and meeting situations
  • Following up on decisions and agreed actions
  • Using meeting tools, agendas, planning resources and equipment

Supporting Training Resources

The existing course includes practical activities, meeting-planning resources and review materials designed to help participants organize and lead more effective meetings.

  • 30 Motivating Ways to Run Your Meeting
  • 7 Activities to Make Virtual Meetings More Engaging
  • How to Create the Perfect Meeting Agenda
  • Review Materials
  • Examination with Answer Key

These resources encourage participants to explore creative approaches to meeting management, improve engagement in both face-to-face and virtual meetings, and develop practical techniques for planning and conducting productive discussions.

Final contents of the Training-to-Go package are currently being reviewed.