Effective School Management

Participants’ checklist
Preliminary work
(1) What are the items on the agenda to which I shall be expected/would
wish to contribute?
(2) Are there any ‘hidden’ agendas for which I should be prepared?
(3) Do I wish to introduce any topics? If so, how? For example:
(a) add them to the agenda before the meeting;
(b) add them at the beginning of the meeting;
(c) make sure that they are considered as part of one of the agenda
items; and
(d) put down a proposal.
(4) In the light of the above:
(a) What information should I study, prepare for circulation as a
handout, prepare to present?
(b) Do I need to request any facilities such as flipcharts or overhead
projector?

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MANAGING MEETINGS
7 1
(c) Do I need to talk to anyone before the meeting in order to gather
information or to lobby?
Meeting content
(1) What sort of outcomes should the meeting have (e.g. a decision, an
exchange of ideas, factual information, a plan of action)?
(2) Is there any outcome that I particularly want?
(3) Is there any outcome that I particularly do not want?
(4) Are there any conditions that I should like to see built into certain
outcomes?
(5) What alternatives can I propose?
(6) What arguments should I use?
(7) What arguments can I expect to be used in opposition to my ideas?
(8) When and how should I present my ideas?
(9) Am I really thinking in the best interests of the organization?
(10) How will my views be perceived?
Follow-up
(1) To what action am I prepared to commit myself/my department?
(2) What time/cost is involved and is this reasonable in the light of other
commitments?
DISCUSSION TOPIC
What are the main problems we experience in our staff meetings? What
practical steps should we take to remedy them?
FURTHER READING
Dobson, A. (1999) Managing Meetings: How to Prepare for Them, How to Run Them and
How to Follow up the Results,  How To Books, Oxford.
Forsyth, P. (1996) The Meetings Pocketbook, Management Pocket Books, Arlesford.
Timm, P.R. (1997) How to Hold Successful Meetings: 30 Action Tips for Managing
Effective Meetings, Career Press, USA.