Overview
By designing an agenda with participation in mind, facilitators create an environment where meetings become more dynamic, inclusive, and results-driven. In this webinar, you will learn actionable techniques to structure agendas that enhance engagement, keep discussions productive, and ensure every meeting serves a clear purpose.
Why you should Attend
What Happens If You Keep Running Ineffective Meetings?
- Wasted Time: How many hours are you and your team spending in meetings that go nowhere? Without a clear, well-designed agenda, discussions drag on, decisions get delayed, and productivity plummets
- Lost Engagement: When participants feel their input doesn’t matter or meetings are dominated by a few voices, they check out. A disengaged team leads to lackluster results and misses opportunities
- Reputation at Risk: Poorly run meetings reflect poorly on leadership. If your meetings are seen as ineffective, you could lose credibility with your team, leadership, or clients
- Are Your Meetings Helping or Hurting Your Goals?
- Are participants contributing, or are they just showing up? A vague agenda leaves people confused about their role and hesitant to speak up
- Do people leave your meetings with clear next steps? If meetings end with no accountability, the same topics will be rehashed over and over
- Are you making the best use of your time? Without structure, meetings become endless discussions rather than decision-making platforms
The Bottom Line: If you don’t take control of your meeting structure, your meetings will continue to control you. Stop wasting time and start getting results-join this one-hour webinar to learn how a well-designed agenda can drive real participation and meaningful outcomes.
Areas Covered in the Session
- Introduction
- The Role of an Agenda in Participatory Meetings
- Understanding the Groan Zone and How to Plan for It
- Key Elements of an Agenda that Boosts Engagement
- Designing Agendas for Different Meeting Types
- Common Pitfalls and How to Avoid Them
- Wrap Up and Action Steps
Who Will Benefit
- Manager
- Project Manager
- Supervisors
- Exec. Directors
- Committee Chairs
Speaker Profile
Laurie Dougherty With over 28 years of experience in leadership development, meeting facilitation, and instructional design, Laurie Dougherty is a highly skilled trainer specializing in soft skills and group facilitation. As a certified facilitator and mentor trainer, Laurie has trained hundreds of professionals in areas such as meeting facilitation, effective communication, emotional intelligence, customer service, and team collaboration.
A dynamic trainer, Laurie focuses on creating interactive, engaging learning experiences that empower individuals and teams to excel. From training department heads in leadership skills, Technology of Participation training, to conducting custom customer service seminars, Laurie is dedicated to delivering practical, results-driven programs.
In addition to being a certified Social Styles Trainer and a member of a professional network of facilitators, Laurie is a mentor trainer in Technology of Participation and hold a certificate in instructional design from Rollins College. Laurie’s approach is highly interactive, ensuring participants gain real-world skills they can immediately apply in their work environments.
Whether you need to enhance your team’s soft skills, improve meeting facilitation, or develop a more empathetic and professional communication style, Laurie’s programs are tailored to meet your specific needs.
Instructor
Laurie Dougherty