For the following questions / scenarios / challenges, please address them from two different perspectives:

1) as the meeting facilitator

and

2) as a meeting participant

Table 1:

“I have so many meetings where there’s overlap. How can I streamline meetings with similar goals?”

Related: “I have to attend multiple meetings regarding same content and usually with the same individuals. Is there a way to change this?”

Table 2:

What is the best way to ensure there are “solutions and/or actionable steps after a meeting”?

Related: “Meetings that repeat the same information without clear decisions or action items, which can delay workflow improvements and pull staff away from patient-facing responsibilities.”

Related: “ones that don't have goals to accomplish, requirement of a directive but it is the same information provided in multiple meetings.”

Related:

"’Parking Lots’" and lack of tasked follow-up with deadlines:” how can I change this to actionable steps?

Table 3:

Is there a way to avoid “leaders in other departments wanting to meet about things that really don't affect my department”?

Related: “Being brought into discussions that are not relevant to my work and the idea that it is a group awareness.”

Table 4:

How do we deal with meeting facilitators or participants “not wanting to make a decision and complete a task? (Dancing around vs making decisions.)”

Related: “Meeting to discuss process improvement often leads to a work group being formed and prolonging the action plan for improvements.”

Table 5:

“I’m a part of monthly meetings without pre-established agendas.” Is there a way to get out of these or, if not, a way to get the facilitator to create and disseminate an agenda?

Related: “The lack of agenda with topics and decisions.”

Related: “Rarely do I show up to a meeting where the purpose is clear, outcomes are defined, and/or the necessary inputs are ready and prepared.”

Table 6:

How do I deal with “meetings that are brain storming meetings with not a full amount of detail provided or history of the topic that is being discussed”? How can I make these types of meetings more effective and efficient? Or not hold them at all?

Related: “Rarely do I show up to a meeting where the necessary inputs are ready and prepared.”

Related: “I often attend ‘touch base’ or status update meetings without any discussion material.” How can I change this?

Table 7:

“Some meetings only need key players in them, so action can be taken.  However, many meetings have multiple team members from each department.” How can I change/improve this duplicated effort?

Table 8:

How can I shift meetings that I attend “to have more solutions and less complaining”?

Related: “Meetings that are just used to complain versus bringing solutions.”

Related: How can I deal with “people getting off topic or bringing in other things that don't pertain to that meeting”?

Table 9:

“In an open discussion among leaders, no one wants to say what is actually on their mind.” How can I change this fear / lack of openness?

Table 10:

“I usually only need to be involved in a small portion of the meeting, but I stay in attendance throughout the entirety.” Is there a diplomatic way for me to attend only “my” portion?

Table 11:

“We are a small facility so I am on almost every committee that then reports to the next committee.  The same goes for most in each meeting.  It would be more efficient to join some of them, but I really do not thing we can technically.” Question: Is there a way to change this situation?

Related: “I feel that we have too many committee meetings.” Is there a way to lessen these?