"All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which is high, one which sometimes seemed impossible..." Orison Swett Marden Tired of sitting through ineffective, ill prepared, poorly led, and BORING meetings? Perhaps you find yourself taking the lead in a meeting or conference. Maximize your meetings and personal effectiveness by pre-planning and streamlining agendas. In this book, we will take the time to discuss what makes a good meeting, training session or conference, and what characteristics you need to be an effective meeting planner or chairman. We will touch on some of the basics of good planning and parliamentary procedure. Further we will explore how to set up and conduct productive meetings by pre-planning and asking the right questions. "Nothing gives a person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances." Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson might have been writing about how to be an effective chairman. With his hand in the drafting and signing of the document that has defined our neighbor to the south he certainly understood what it took to wade through the differences of opinion, style, and personal agendas to get the job done. And so will you after you have completed this book. I have drawn from personal and professional experience in attending, participating; and leading business, association board meetings and AGMs, as well as conducting, planning, and leading conferences and convention planning teams across North America. I have used my platform experience of working with meeting planners on 6 continents as a speaker, facilitator, emcee, panel host and panelist, and as corporate and association trainer and breakout seminar leader. I share with you some of the fruits and lessons of those labors, in hopes, that I may give you a foundation upon which to see SUCCESSFUL, MAXIMIZED MEETINGS, because of yours. There are many factors that influence and impact the success of any venture. Hosting a successful meeting, training session, or conference takes planning, people, and performance. If you invest the time in reading and applying what I have shared here, your event will be more successful. You may not meet 100% Satisfaction (few meetings do so), but you will go a long way in creating and delivering an event that meets or exceeds the needs of those who attend. This publication is derived from nearly 30 years in the meetings industry as a speaker, presenter, board member, conference chair, organizing or committee chair roles. I've kept it simple, so it is relatively easy to understand and apply.
