Going to a meeting

The aim
To give anyone who attends meetings the skills to contribute more effectively and deal with even the most awkward colleagues.


About the programme
This two-part series demonstrates how easy it can be to handle the various personalities you encounter in the meeting arena. By preparing yourself better, and knowing how to avoid conflict between participants, meetings will become far more effective. Suitable for anybody who attends meetings, this highly entertaining programme is based on a group of middle managers in a large hospital.
Part 1: Messing up a meeting
Jeremy prepares to go to a regular meeting with his colleagues. Unfortunately, his 'preparation' involves grabbing a few papers and turning up late. John Cleese triesto warn him that this isn't good enough, but he is in too much of a hurry to listen. The meeting, inevitably, is a disaster for him. On his return, Cleese explains what he ought to have done and he gets another chance. The results of doing his homework properly produce an entirely different outcome.
Messing up a meetingshows how to avoid common mistakes (like refusing to stick to the agenda, or rowing with colleagues), how to prepare, how to get points across succinctly, and how to deal with conflict with courtesy and respect.
Part 2: Meeting menaces
Meeting menaces contains five short sequences, all introduced by John Cleese. Jeremy fails to handle the destructive behaviour of each of the five menaces present at his meeting - the Waffler, the Turf Warrior, the Assassin, the Dominator and the Interrupter - and the meeting quickly becomes a farce. However, following guidance from Cleese, Jeremy learns the techniques for handling each menace correctly and gets the meeting back on track.
Meeting menacesshows how to cope with colleagues whose behaviour prevents meetings from being productive.
'A good investment for refreshing the managers of today and training those of the future.'
Jan Golding, Training magazine


The key outcomes
-Staff will learn how to get the best out of going to meetings
-Quality of meetings will improve
-Better meetings will build teams and improve performance


Programme includes:
DVD Part 1 (20 mins)
DVD Part 2 (20 mins)
Course leaders guide
Delegate worksheets on disc
PowerPoint slides on disc
Self-study workbook on disc


Information:
A Video Arts production 2002, featuring John Cleese and Andy Taylor.

Learning-chapters
Part 1:

• An Introduction to Meetings
• Do Your Homework
• Irrelevant Points
• Keep it Short
• Discourteous and Contradicting
• Keep it Cool and Courteous
• Summary

Part 2:

• The Waffler
• The Turf Warrior
• The Assassin
• The Dominator
• The Interrupter
• Use the 3 Point Technique