How to Facilitate Your First Meeting

What I wish someone had explained to me

The first team meeting I ever led ended in disaster. I went in with some thoughts of topics I wanted to discuss. A more seasoned colleague quickly took over the meeting and used all of the allotted time to explain in detail his brilliant idea and why we needed to “get this over with” by recording the obviously great solution he had devised. I left the meeting that day confused and frustrated. My first thought was “What a jerk!” My second thought was “How did I let that happen?”

Well, the truth of the matter is none of us was ever taught how to lead a team meeting. Most of what people know about leading meetings was picked up from watching others conduct meetings. In this way, we go through adopting techniques we like without any regard as to whether they work to achieve the outcomes we seek. We just muddle our way through.

If we are lucky, we will become known as “efficient.” Rarely, if ever will we become known as a “Magic Facilitator” — one who leads a meeting that is productive and engaging. After many years of muddling my way…