101 Ways to Make Meetings Active Surefire Ideas to Engage Your Group

by Silberman, Melvin L.

• ISBN13: 9780787946074
• ISBN10: 0787946079
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-06-11
• Publisher: Pfeiffer

Summary

Say goodbye to the dull and deadly!Siberman's back--and better than ever!Think about your last meeting. Was it boring? Meetings often are. You might be yawning just thinking about it. You're not the only one!Those who attAnd stale meetings are as bored with them as the people responsible for running them. "Dull and deadly" is never the way to get things done. In his latest book, active training specialist Mel Silberman packs 101 tools, tips, and techniques guaranteed to brighten your next meeting. You'll move the action along while successfully fulfilling genuine business goals and objectives. This is a resource for everyone!"Mel has done it again! Use just a few of the more than 200 ideas in this gem of a book and never again will you hear 'ugh, another meeting.'"--Glenn M. Parker, team building consultant; author, Team Players and Teamwork; co-author, Teamwork and Teamplay You'll get the basics on: Preparing a meeting Engaging participants right away Stimulating discussion Prompting creative problem solving Managing conflict Building consensus Creating an unforgettable closing . . . and much more! Silberman has drawn a few choice tips from his other resources, but most of 101 Ways to Make Meetings Active consists of all-new, powerful techniques for pumping energy into your business gatherings. Your meetings and presentations will be more fun than ever before--and you'll also build a stronger, more collaborative sense of mission and purpose.Stop yawning! No need to be bored when Silberman's on the scene.A special BONUS is the "nuts and bolts" section that contains 140 field-tested facilitation tips!

Author Biography

MEL SILBERMAN, Ph.D., is president of Active Training, a provider of cutting-edge training seminars, including Surefire Ways to Make Your Meetings Active and The Consummate Team Facilitator. He is also a professor of adult and organizational development at Temple University, as well as a best-selling author. His recent books include 101 Way to Make Training Active (Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer, 1995), Active Learning (Allyn & Bacon, 1996), Active Training (2nd ed.) (Jossey-Bass/Pfeiffer, 1998). Dr. Silberman has consulted for hundreds of corporate, governmental, educational, and human service organizations worldwide. He is also a popular speaker at professional conferences.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Introduction	xi
The Nuts and Bolts of Active Meetings	1	(46)
Ten Layouts for Setting Up a Meeting Room	3	(10)
Ten Ways to Learn New Names	13	(4)
Ten Methods for Obtaining Group Participation	17	(4)
Ten Tips When Facilitating Discussions	21	(4)
Ten Meeting Roles and Responsibilities	25	(2)
Ten Alternatives for Assigning Jobs	27	(2)
Ten Timesavers During Active Meetings	29	(2)
Ten Props to Employ During Active Meetings	31	(2)
Ten Tricks for Calling Participants to Order	33	(2)
Ten Methods to Deal with Difficult Participants	35	(4)
Ten Energizers to Wake Up or Relax a Group	39	(2)
Ten Things to Do When the Group Is Stuck	41	(2)
Ten Tips to Make Flip Charts Graphic	43	(2)
Ten Questions to Process a Meeting	45	(2)
Preparing Active Meetings	47	(40)
Building an Active Agenda in Advance	49	(4)
Pre-Meeting Survey of Participants	53	(4)
Advance Reviews	57	(2)
Preparation Is Everyone's Responsibility	59	(4)
Stating Expectations Up-Front	63	(2)
Be Our Guest	65	(4)
Creative Name Tents	69	(2)
Exciting Meeting Packets	71	(4)
Facilitator Prompt Cards	75	(2)
Going Beyond Minutes	77	(4)
Preparing the Meeting Space	81	(4)
Active Participation in Videoconference Meetings	85	(2)
Engaging Participants from the Start	87	(42)
Human Scavenger Hunt	89	(2)
Group Resume	91	(2)
The Company You Keep	93	(2)
Getting to Know You Well	95	(4)
A Representative Sample	99	(2)
Stand Up and Be Counted	101	(2)
Introductory Go-Arounds	103	(4)
Team Getaway	107	(2)
Reconnecting	109	(2)
Lightening the Meeting	111	(2)
Getting in Sync with One Another	113	(4)
Clearing the Air	117	(2)
Agenda Review and Approval	119	(2)
On-the-Spot Agenda Setting	121	(2)
Beginning at the End	123	(2)
Setting Ground Rules	125	(4)
Stimulating Discussion, Dialogue, and Learning	129	(44)
Town Meeting	131	(2)
Three-Stage Fishbowl Discussion	133	(2)
Expanding Panel	135	(2)
Point-Counterpoint	137	(2)
Feedback Teams	139	(2)
I Have a Question	141	(2)
The Study Group	143	(2)
Group to Group Exchange	145	(2)
Jigsaw Discussion	147	(4)
Card Exchange	151	(2)
Snowball Discussion	153	(2)
Go to Your Post	155	(2)
Instant Assessment	157	(2)
Rotating Trios	159	(2)
Anonymous Comments	161	(2)
Active Opinion Sharing	163	(2)
Meet the Press	165	(2)
Everyone Is an Expert Here	167	(2)
The Talking Stick	169	(4)
Facilitating Creative Problem Solving	173	(44)
Creative Warmups	175	(4)
Fast and Slow Brainstorming	179	(4)
Brainwriting	183	(2)
Brainwalking	185	(2)
Part Changing	187	(2)
Brainstorming Roadblocks	189	(2)
Negative Brainstorming	191	(2)
Clustering Brainstormed Ideas	193	(2)
Looking at the Possibilities	195	(2)
Wearing Someone Else's Shoes	197	(4)
What's the Problem?	201	(4)
Challenging Assumptions	205	(4)
Inspired Cutouts	209	(2)
The Power of Two	211	(2)
Mind Mapping	213	(4)
Managing Controversy and Conflict	217	(34)
Changing the Rules	219	(2)
Active Debate	221	(4)
Removing Egos	225	(2)
Breaking a Stalemate	227	(4)
Collaboration in Conflict Resolution	231	(2)
Differences of Opinion	233	(2)
Active Self-Assessment	235	(2)
Hot Issues	237	(4)
Arguing the Flip Side	241	(4)
Perception Checking	245	(2)
Fishbowl Meeting	247	(2)
Going Beyond the Pros and Cons	249	(2)
Building Consensus and Commitment	251	(34)
Billboard Ranking	253	(2)
Multivoting	255	(4)
Weighing the Options	259	(2)
Small Group to Large Group Consensus	261	(2)
Polling for Consensus	263	(4)
Hearing from the Minority	267	(4)
Super-Majority Voting	271	(2)
Comparing the Remaining Options	273	(2)
Putting a Decision ``On Trial''	275	(2)
Moving Toward Consensus	277	(2)
I Hereby Resolve....	279	(2)
I'm Committed	281	(4)
Creating Unforgettable Endings	285	(34)
Assessing Obstacles	287	(2)
Gallery of Achievement	289	(2)
Bumper Stickers	291	(2)
Follow-Up Questionnaire	293	(2)
Follow-Up Support	295	(2)
Connections	297	(2)
Group Photo	299	(2)
What? So What? Now What?	301	(2)
How Did We Do?	303	(4)
Thank You	307	(2)
Are We on the Same Page?	309	(2)
Ballooning Messages	311	(2)
When the Spirit Moves You	313	(2)
Down the Lane	315	(2)
Meeting ``Rap-Up''	317	(2)
Further Reading	319	(2)
About the Authors	321