Ask your colleagues which aspect of organizational life they associate with minimum efficiency and maximum frustration. It's a safe bet most of them will say 'meetings'. Simply improving the way meetings are planned and managed could dramatically increase the effectiveness of your organization.

Tony Bray's training resource deals with all the skills, processes and techniques required to ensure that meetings are productive and profitable. Its four Parts cover:

• the preliminary issues that need to be addressed
• the main types of meeting
• the personal skills involved
• follow-up activities.

Projects, role plays, games, pencil-and-paper exercises, discussions - there are activities here to suit all tastes. Each session includes detailed guidance for the trainer, as well as ready-to-copy masters for OHPs and participants' materials. Additional support is provided in the form of an index of skills/processes, notes on running training events and a section on managing observers' feedback (including a useful checklist).

Trainers seeking a comprehensive, easy-to-use package that will enable them to deliver effective training with the minimum of preparation need look no further.

Contents
Introduction; Managing observers feedback; Index to skills and processes. Part I Getting Started: 'I think we need a meeting ...'; Meetings can be so frustrating!; Get SMART!; Plan for success; You're in the Chair; The successful partnership; It's a risky business; Participants prepare too. Part II Variations on a Theme: I want to tell you a story; Welcome your guest; Get to the root of the problem; Fixing problems permanently; Let's aim for the same target; How well are we doing?; Things aren't going so well; Working for win-win; Sell? Who me?; Happy endings. Part III Personal Skills: The shortest pencil ...; When do minutes last for hours?; Keep a note for the file; Who's listening?; Ask your way to success; Can we agree to this?; Stand and deliver!; Handling difficult situations; Where does the time go?; The subtle influence. Part IV After the Meeting: Turning thoughts into action; How can we do it better next time?

About the Author
Tony Bray was for many years Head of Operational Management Training at British Telecom Management Training College. In 1989 he started his own consultancy, specializing in communication, presentation skills and meetings management for a wide range of clients in both the private and public sectors. He has written numerous training packages.