Every meeting must be started somehow, have a certain course and then be ended. However, there is a big difference in just planning and managing the meeting, or genuinely leading it from the front. The second option usually proves significantly more effective.
Scheduling the meeting
Planners simply schedule a meeting based on a specific topic.
Leaders, on the other hand, plan meetings so that people are ready and focused. They let participants know in advance what the goals of the meeting are, what should be achieved during its course, what the role of each team member will be and how to prepare.
Opening the meeting
Planners start the meeting from the beginning and then manage it according to the set agenda. They usually handle lighter administrative matters first.
Leaders focus on the purpose and desired outcome, lay the groundwork and reflect the expectations of all participants. At the same time, they monitor people's responsibility for the results of previous steps.
Course of the meeting
Planners give the floor to those who want to contribute to the discussion. Usually they are always the same people. They don't use many technological tools and they try to keep things simple.
Leaders give everyone the same space. They also challenge those team members who would otherwise be silent. To get quality input from team members and in the online environment, they provide all possible tools, such as chat or mind maps.
Ending the meeting
Planners always end the meeting on time and primarily by recapitulating further action steps.
Leaders, on the other hand, document individual items of action and emphasise the commitment of stakeholders. They make sure everyone knows who is responsible for what. At the same time, they document the meeting and then share the record of it.
Conducting meetings in an online meeting environment is a matter of discovering your skills. Becoming a leader, not just a planner, requires foresight, training and patience. But you can trust that the results will be worth your effort.
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