CHECKLIST: Leader Meeting Review

A checklist for the leader to review the meeting.

During the Opening, Did You?

• Create an open and productive meeting. Did you loosen up the group before plunging into business?
• Verbally and non-verbally indicate your enthusiasm for the discussion and its importance?
• Physically arrange the group for comfort and discussion convenience and did you draw latecomers into the discussion?
• Open the meeting with a clear statement of the purpose of the gathering and did you make all welcome to participate?
• Get the discussion going by directing stimulating open questions to participants?
• Be patient in giving the group time to get acquainted?

During the Meeting, Did you?

• Allow the group to identify issues and procedures and then guide them along the path they selected, or did you impose your plan or procedures?
• Provide interim summaries as the group finished each topic?
• Listen to the opinions of others, even those who disagreed with you?
• Refer questions back to the group members for answer rather than trying to answer them yourself?
• How much of the group time did you spend talking? Over twenty percent?
• Draw out the reticent participants?
• Tactfully balance the overly talkative and under talkative participants and keep the group on track?
• Wrap up the meeting by providing a summary of important decisions, assignments, and details of next steps or the next meeting?

The Meeting Review

• Was preparation adequate with proper equipment available and working, and necessary information gotten to members in a timely fashion? Were rooms, physical arrangements and visual aids adequate?
• Was the purpose of the meeting clear to all, with objectives clearly specified? Did the leader introduce the meeting clearly and concisely and did he stick to the agenda?
• Was an open meeting climate created and primary tensions released? Did all members participate?
• Did the meeting stay on track with the leader exercising adequate control while assuring the group enough freedom to really work? Did participants keep their contributions to the point or did a few dominate?
• Did the group come to sound conclusions and did the leader help the group to reach a consensus?
• How well did the leader handle conflicts, the domineering member, and the non-participating members.
• Was an adequate summary of progress, agreements and follow up arrangements provided at the close of the meeting?
• Did the leader emphasize the progress made to enhance group satisfaction with the meeting or were frustrations of the group left unresolved and/or unaddressed at the conclusion?

Source: Adapted from a handout received at a Toastmasters Club many years ago.