We all have partnership meetings to make our projects happen. What makes the good ones a pleasure?
For Helen Fairweather from R4C –
- Laughter and a sense of fun, sometimes banter
- People supporting and caring about each other
- Respecting and listening to each other
- A lot of diversity in the room – different backgrounds, points of view, ways of doing things..
- Most members turn up most of the time
- Regular check-ins and evaluations of meetings, the project as a whole
And when they’re not a pleasure, are they poison? What are the signs?
- Some or most members don’t say much
- People interrupt or talk across each other, start separate mini-conversations
- Very task-oriented, no discussions about feelings, family, life
- Little reflection on the bigger picture, how are we progressing, what’s good, could be better?
- Poor turnout
So how do we nurture the pleasure and draw out the poison?
I have my ideas but I’d love to hear yours. What has helped your meetings be a pleasure?
