Business Meeting Skills

INTERACT WITH EASE AND STYLE: Chairing meetings effectively

Training method

We offer highly effective facilitator-led, interactive workshops with a balanced blend of theory and practice. Participants are inspired and excited by their training, skills are practiced, analysed and reinforced and tangible results are evident in the workplace.

• Our training is outcomes based, experiential and relevant.
• The workshops are fun and vibrant, incorporating the participants’ personal and professional experience, role-play and games.
• The facilitators are innovative and passionate, keeping up to date with current trends and methods
• Exercises are videotaped so the participants can review their strengths and weaknesses and monitor progress.
• Assessment is an ongoing, integral component

Assessment

During the workshop, thorough, personalised and focused feedback will be given.

Self-, peer- and facilitator- evaluation are used to check personal development and the application of skills taught during the training.

At the end of the workshop a written report on the participants’ development will be submitted.

Duration

The workshop is two full days.

Course Outline

Analysing your image as a communicator

The outcomes of this section are to:

• understand how others perceive you as a communicator
• choose 4 core areas for improvement during the coaching
• express messages with energy and natural vitality
• enhance your personal strengths and minimise your weaknesses as a communicator

Understanding the voice: breath work and control

You can be persuasive and credible by learning to:

• control your breath: sound clear, confident & in control
• control your voice: create interest using techniques like pause, pitch & pace
• manipulate your voice for successful results: learn how to power the voice to add to the message

Honing professionalism: maintaining credibility, proficiency and directness

Explore ways to:

• project a positive image: appear calm, controlled & enthusiastic
• boost confidence: examine self-esteem & self-motivation
• make an impression: speak with enthusiasm & conviction
• feel comfortable when delivering facts and figures: create an aura of authority

Understanding non-verbal cues

• recognise the psychology of non-verbal communication: how to use body language to enhance the message
• use non-verbal cues: emphasise points with gesture, expression, posture and tone
• instil confidence in others: the dynamics of first impressions
• read the body language of others: acknowledge the subtext

Accurate and effective listening, hearing and response

The outcomes of this session are:

• understanding how to listen sensitively and accurately
• listening for subtext
• interpreting silence accurately
• keeping the message clear and focused
• identifying and anticipating the needs of the speaker

Handling aggression, confrontations and other emotively charged situations

• understand the basic psychological processes: anticipate, assess & respond appropriately
• keep your cool: acknowledge needs, label emotions & develop assertiveness
• assert control of a situation where communication is aggressive: identify & diffuse power games & keep a professional attitude

Chairing skills

This section focuses on how the chair is responsible for making meetings more streamlined and efficient.

It covers:

• planning for an efficient meeting
• how to run a productive meeting
• developing confidence
• facilitating panel discussions
• introducing guest speakers
• techniques for handling aggression & long-winded speakers
• managing people who undermine your role as chairperson (because of age, racial, status or gender prejudice)
• understanding group dynamics
• tips for thinking on your feet
• keeping the meeting on track
• effective summation

Consolidation and review

Initial core areas identified for improvement are reviewed for progress. Each participant is given a chance to chair a mini-meeting, and is assessed by peers and the facilitator.