Meetings - stop the sex war - let each contribute
Featured in the Valuing Diversity at Work training manual
By Ken Birkett & Val Rowland
Category: Diversity
Credit price: 3 download credits (Single user)
Meetings are a widespread feature of working life, A well-organised, controlled meeting can be a useful contribution to group communication, action, progress, and business success – a bad meeting can be a waste of time and money. In a diverse and successful environment, organisations minimise the negative effects of out-dated views of the role of different types of employee and emphasise an egalitarian culture where effective performance is the key. Use this training resource to illustrate the importance of performance rather than gender discriminating behaviour in meetings. Men and women may have different approaches to communicating and both need acceptance and consideration by all if the benefits of their separate experiences are to be maximised. Most effective meetings are a team venture and the behaviour of those present is crucial to the quality of output. The prime responsibility for effective behaviour rests with each individual. Meetings should, however, be chaired by people who monitor the situation – undesirable patterns of behaviour need to be dealt with sensibly and quickly.
You begin this training activity by considering the main reasons for meetings. The participants next examine the behaviour in meetings they have attended. They compare their thoughts with others in a group and discuss what differences gender makes, or should make. The significance of the role of the chair in effective behaviour is explored by the participants in an exercise designed to define the main requirements for the competent handling of meetings. Finally, the participants investigate the difficulties involved in the responsibilities of a chairperson and compare their ranking of those difficulties, to arrive at the conclusion that the challenge of chairing meetings is irrespective of gender.
Who is it for: This training resource is intended for use by trainers to demonstrate to participants the importance of performance rather than gender discriminating behaviour in effective meetings and to examine meeting behaviour and the role of the chair in effective behaviour and successful meetings.
| Resource Type: | Activity |
| Min Group Size: | 4 |
| Max Group Size: | 12 |
| Typical Duration: | 02:05:00 |
| No of Pages: | 17 |
Resources: View standard resources for Fenman training activities
Purpose: This training resource is intended for use by trainers with staff who attend meetings, including those who chair and those with other roles. Meetings between various groups of people are a common way of implementing communications. This training activity is therefore useful for training sessions concerned with communication, team leadership and general management. It is also suitable for equal opportunity programmes.
Download the training activity, Meetings - stop the sex war - let each contribute as featured in the Fenman training manual; Valuing Diversity at Work