What is a meeting?

A meeting is where two or more people meet to discuss ideas, make decisions, make plans and understand each other's points of view.

Why do a meeting?

Meetings can take place for all sorts of reasons:

• Annual General Meetings
• Meetings to discuss progress on a work site
• Check in on progress towards a goal
• The Progress and Pathways that we do at school are a good example of an informal meeting that we use to discuss your progress and plan your pathway forward.

How do we do one?

Section One: What makes a meeting a meeting?

Regardless of what a meeting is about, all meetings have some characteristics in common. For example, a meeting has to have two or more people to work. Also, at all meetings you could have food. Check out these definitions and descriptions:

• According to Wikipedia, "A meeting is a gathering of two or more people that has been convened for the purpose of achieving a common goal through verbal interaction, such as sharing information or reaching agreement.^[1] Meetings may occur face-to-face or virtually, as mediated by communications technology, such as a telephone conference call, a skyped conference call or a videoconference. One Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a meeting as "an act or process of coming together" - for example "as [...] an assembly for a common purpose [...]".^[2]Meeting planners and other meeting professionals may use the term "meeting" to denote an event booked at a hotel, convention center or any other venue dedicated to such gatherings.^[1][3]"
• And the Collins Dictionary defines a meeting as " A meeting is an event in which a group of people come together to discuss things or make decisions. "

TASK:

1. Use the above information and also do some internet research to find FIVE things that make a meeting a meeting regardless of what type of meeting it is.

Section Two: Differences between formal and informal meetings

There are two main different types of meetings - formal and informal. The two different types define how people meet, what they expect, how they behave and talk. It can be as simple as the different clothes that you wear - in a formal meeting you might wear a suit and tie whereas in an informal meeting, your jeans will probably be fine.

But there are also differences in how formal and informal meetings are run. Formal meetings will usually have a chairperson who will run everything and it is important to listen to their instructions. An informal meeting will be a lot freer in how they are run and people can pretty much speak when they want to.

Task:

1. Watch these videos and write down as many informal meeting characteristics and formal meeting characteristics as you can. Your key question here is: what makes an informal meeting, an informal meeting and what makes a formal meeting, a formal meeting?

Section Four: Non verbal communication

One of the ways in which we communicate the loudest, is through what we don't say, but rather what we do. Think for a moment about the difference you feel if someone is looking at you when you talk versus when they are looking out the window. Which one makes you feel more heard? Which one makes you wonder if the other person is even interested?

Non verbal communication includes things like body language, eye contact and posture all communicate what you are really thinking and feeling.

Task:

1. Read this article on the importance of non verbal communication in meetings

2. Watch this video on how to manage your non verbal communication habits to communicate what you want in a meeting

3. Write 5 tips on effective non verbal communication in meetings

Examples

Check out these examples of meetings so that you can see how meetings are structured, run and how people communicate and behave in meetings. You might like to run a couple of family meetings at home about sharing out the chores or something, just so that you feel prepared.

Summary

• A meeting's main job is to share information and discuss ideas, make plans and decisions. Everyone has a voice in meetings and listening is equally important in them.
• There are two types of meeting - formal and informal - and each has specific ways of being called, letting people know what will happen in them, how they are run, how to behave, how to remember what has happened and what to wear.
• In a meeting, there are certain ways to behave.
• Also, in meetings, lots of communication is done through non verbal things such as eye contact and body language

Assessment

• You will be assigned your own copy of the paperwork through Google Classroom. For the paperwork, you simply need to identify FIVE characteristics of meetings in general and then FIVE characteristics of a formal meeting and FIVE characteristics of an informal meeting. Share it back with your teacher when you have finished or need feedback.
• You need to complete the paperwork and then do the meeting which will be about seeing where you are at with your learning and then planning your next steps . We can do this on Google Meet or face to face depending on where school is at.