In our business there are a few different types of meetings which includes: One to One, small group, larger group, public meeting and conferences. In this section we’ll cover the One to One, small group and larger group. Meetings that help you build your business. If you run a public meeting it is similar to larger groups. I doubt you will be putting on a conference but you may be required to speak at them so this section will help with this too.
Putting on and running a meeting is a skill that you can quickly learn. Speaking to groups is a different skill which can also be learnt but probably not so quickly because there is a lot to delivering information and keeping an audience stimulated. Once you have mastered speaking to an audience it becomes easier and eventually you’ll be able to speak extemporaneously.
The content for most of the UnFranchise Business meetings is based on a similar theme and you can find lots of examples including presentation material on the internet. The content for products such as the health products or the TLS Weight Loss System is specific and again there is plenty of information on the internet.
In both situations planning and preparing meetings is the same apart from the material.
An important thing to know is the difference in audience reaction in different countries. Audiences are more likely to respond to or ask questions in Australia, whereas in Singapore it takes more effort from the speaker before people will open up in public.
Below is list of potential tasks that you can prepare before, during and after meetings. Each one will be covered in more detail in other sections. What you can’t predict is who will turn up, the types of people in your audience or how your audience will react.
- Purpose of meeting
- Write a clear statement
- Checklist
- Always use a checklist whatever type of meeting it is
- Agenda
- Published or not
- You must have a carefully planned agenda
- Date, Start and Finish Times
- Important to start and finish on time
- Venue
- To fit type of meeting and size
- Air conditioning
- Name Tags
- Useful especially for small groups
- Record of attendees
- Important to keep a record of people and their contact
- How many people
- Be prepared
- Set limits depending on type of meeting
- Who is to attend
- Who do you want to attend
- Who is the meeting for
- Who are the speakers
- Who is speaking on what
- Speakers schedule
- Clear instructions for speaker
- What facilities are required for the meeting
- Make sure the facilities fit the meeting
- Toilets etc
- Car parking
- What kind of material such as handouts is required
- Have this prepared
- Organise distributors
- Call to action
- If you want people to commit to something make it clear
- Evaluation
- Feedback is vital
- Provide form
- Technical requirements such as display and sound system
- Ensure everything you and speakers require is available
- Testing
- Always check everything is working before the meeting
- Catering
- Always organise prior to meeting
- Costs
- Are there any costs
- Will people have to pay
- Follow up
- Always follow up within a a specific time
