The Leadership Training Activity Book: 50 Exercises

(^228) THE LEADERSHIP TRAINING ACTIVITY BOOK
MATERIALS
Handout 40.1: Sample Agenda
EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES
 Flipcharts (one per small group)
 Markers
 Self-sticking notes
ROOM SET-UP
Space for a table, chairs, and flipchart for each small group
Comments
It is important to develop and distribute an agenda before a scheduled meeting, be-
cause it gives people time to gather information about important issues. It also ensures
that the most-important topics will be discussed at the meeting.
RESOURCES
For more on other facilitation techniques, read Faultless Facilitation—A Resource Guide,
by Lois B. Hart (Amherst, MA: HRD Press) 2001.
Trainer’s Notes for Activity 40
STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURE
Step 1: Introduce the topic with these remarks:
“If we look back at meetings we’ve attended or conducted that have
not been too successful, we are likely to conclude that not having an
agenda or having only a poorly planned one was a major reason why
the meeting was a flop. The focus of this next activity is on how to
prepare a good agenda.
In this activity, we will also review why it’s important to have an
agenda. You will have an opportunity to work in small groups to prepare
one agenda together.”
Step 2: Discuss the importance of having an agenda for every scheduled
meeting. List participants’ ideas on the flipchart. Make sure they realize
that agendas:
 Clarify which tasks and issues need discussion.
 Put items into an order for discussion.