Running Great Meetings and Workshops For Dummies

Chapter 14

Ten Things You Have to Do When the Pressure Is On

In This Chapter

Getting ready for your session

Managing the group

Managing yourself

The first time you kick off a project team meeting, run a workshop, deal with senior people or tackle a topic slightly out of your comfort zone, you need to plan more and be super-conscious of what you do on the day. That’s because you’ve got much to lose when it goes wrong. This chapter helps you get it right.

Preparing Brilliantly

When the pressure is on, the first thing you need to do is prepare. That means

• Planning well-presented and well-ordered documents and materials well in advance: That way, you won’t be working late to pull everything together at the last minute.
• Sorting out the logistics and sending out clear invitations in advance of your session: You don’t want to be dealing with room issues or dial in numbers minutes before you start.
• Knowing what you are going to say: You want to look fluent and in control, so you need to say it, say it and say it. That means rehearsing out loud, so you have the words for any difficult bits on the tip of your tongue.

If you want to know how you come over, you should video yourself doing ...