A meeting is where two or more people meet to discuss ideas, make decisions, make plans and understand each other's points of view.
Meetings can take place for all sorts of reasons:
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:
TASK:
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?
In meetings, you need be able to agree, disagree and suggest ideas without upsetting anyone. There is a real trick to this - especially the disagreeing with someone - so that people feel heard and don't feel stink as a result of something you accidentally say or do.
There are some ideas on how to disagree in the videos on the left - disagreeing is sometimes the hardest skill to learn.
TASK:
Write a sentence starter bank of sentence starters that help to agree, disagree and suggest ideas.
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
3. Write 5 tips on effective non verbal communication in meetings
Online meetings can be really hard as we don't realise how much we rely on nonverbal communication cues when we talk to each other. For example, if someone has their camera turned off or pointed at the ceiling it can feel like they aren't even listening.
Check out this video from the New Zealand Police which is a comedy but highlights some common issues with online meetings and the non verbal communication bits that can go wrong.
Task:
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.