ABSTRACT
Skillful meeting facilitation ensures a school team works cohesively, increases productivity, encourages new and innovative ideas, and makes progress on intended goals. By contrast, poorly facilitated meetings waste valuable time, frustrate those involved, and are a detriment to positive school culture. It is important to understand that preparation is essential to an effective meeting. Four important components need to be included when planning for every meeting: purpose and outcomes; agenda; action items and process. A well-thought-out agenda is the cornerstone of a great meeting. It serves as a road map for the participants. Agendas can be designed by the facilitator or can be co-constructed by the facilitator and the participants but should be shared ahead of time if possible. Most meetings should end with action items for the group. Even if the purpose of the meeting is to generate ideas or gain understanding about a topic, it is still important to clearly articulate next steps.
