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Beyond the agenda: understanding the 10 types of meetings (...and their challenges)


Types of Meetings: Diversifying Collaboration and Decision-Making


In today's dynamic business environment, meetings are a vital tool for communication, collaboration, and decision-making. Meetings are far more than the tradional meeting room. Meetings have become integrated in our daily lives anywhere and anytime.


Not all meetings serve the same purpose. Recognising the different types of meetings can help us use our time more efficiently and drive better outcomes.


Choosing the Right Meeting Type

It's not enough just to call a meeting; it's crucial to identify its purpose. By understanding and utilising the right type of meeting, teams can achieve clearer communication, better collaboration, and more effective results.


Have a look at the various meeting types and their respective challenges. Of course their are many more formats and combinations out there, but it's instrumental to understand the main types.


1. Information Sharing Meetings: These are typically one-directional, where one or more people present information to others. Examples include weekly updates, monthly reports, or quarterly reviews.

  • Engagement: Keeping participants interested and attentive throughout.

  • Data Overload: Presenting too much information without clear takeaways.

  • One-way Communication: Limited interaction may lead to misunderstandings.


2. Decision-Making Meetings: The primary goal here is to reach a consensus. Participants discuss, debate, and evaluate different options to arrive at a decision. Board meetings often fall into this category.

  • Consensus Building: Aligning various viewpoints can be time-consuming.

  • Over-analysis: Getting bogged down in details without reaching a decision.

  • Authority Clash: Confusion or conflict about who has the final say.


3. Brainstorming Sessions: Here, the environment is open and creative. Participants throw out ideas without judgment, aiming to generate as many concepts as possible.

  • Groupthink: The group may converge on similar ideas, stifling diversity of thought.

  • Idea Validation: Differentiating between viable and non-viable ideas.

  • Unstructured Discussion: Straying off-topic or not having a clear direction.


4. Problem-Solving Meetings: These meetings focus on addressing specific challenges. The group collaborates to understand the issue, analyze causes, and develop potential solutions.

  • Problem Definition: Not clearly defining or understanding the root issue.

  • Solution Fit: Proposing solutions that may not fully address the problem.

  • Over-complication: Making the problem or solution more complex than necessary.


5. Team-Building Meetings: Not just for fun, these meetings aim to strengthen team dynamics, build trust, and enhance interpersonal relationships. Activities may include team outings, workshops, or trust-building exercises.

  • Forced Participation: Team members feeling obligated rather than genuinely engaged.

  • Relevance: Activities may not resonate with all team members.

  • Sustained Impact: The positive effects of the meeting fading quickly.


6. Training and Development Meetings: Aimed at skill-building, these sessions educate attendees about new tools, technologies, or methodologies.

  • Knowledge Retention: Ensuring participants remember and apply what they learn.

  • Engaging Content: Keeping the material interesting and relevant.

  • Skill Application: Ensuring practical application of the skills taught.


7. Status Update Meetings: These are routine check-ins, where team members update each other on project progress, upcoming tasks, and potential roadblocks.

  • Redundancy: Overlapping or repetitive information from multiple participants.

  • Time Management: Ensuring timely updates without overrunning the meeting.

  • Clarity: Ensuring all updates are understood by everyone.


8. Feedback and Review Meetings: These can be one-on-one or group sessions where performance, projects, or strategies are evaluated.

  • Constructive Criticism: Offering feedback in a positive and actionable manner.

  • Defensiveness: Navigating emotions and potential resistance to feedback.

  • Action Planning: Ensuring feedback leads to concrete next steps.


9. Client or Stakeholder Meetings: Focused on building and maintaining relationships, these meetings cater to the needs, expectations, and feedback of clients or stakeholders.

  • Alignment: Ensuring both sides have aligned expectations and objectives.

  • Communication Barriers: Navigating differences in language, culture, or business practices.

  • Value Demonstration: Proving the value or ROI of products, services, or initiatives.


10. Kick-off Meetings: These are used at the onset of a new project or phase to ensure everyone understands the goals, roles, and expectations.

  • Role Clarity: Ensuring everyone understands their responsibilities.

  • Expectation Setting: Clearly defining the project's goals and desired outcomes.

  • Resource Allocation: Ensuring the necessary resources are available and assigned.


Summary: Meetings play diverse roles in business. By recognising the specific types, such as information sharing, decision-making, or brainstorming sessions, we can optimize our time and drive meaningful outcomes. Know your meeting's purpose, and choose the right type for success!

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