How you prepare for a Team meeting can have a direct impact on the effectiveness of the event. The following tips help prepare Leaders to conduct their Team meetings with precision.

· Arrange the room in the best seating style for the group. Small groups can be around a table. Mid-size groups can be in classroom style. Larger groups should be in theater style. Be conservative in estimating the size of the room for your meeting. A full room generates a more exciting atmosphere than one with several empty chairs. You can ensure seats at the front are filled first by adding chairs at the back only if necessary.

· Be prepared and in control. Do not look stressed in front of your Consultants. Connect with each Consultant as they enter so they feel comfortable and accepted. If you can’t actively be at the door, choose one or two Consultants with outgoing personalities to welcome everyone as they arrive. Ask them to be there fifteen minutes prior to the meeting.

· Have name tags for guests and Consultants. Make your guests feel special by placing a strip of bright ribbon under their stick-on name tag or using a different colored name tag. This will make them feel welcome. Name tags also help you remember names as your team continues to grow.

· Involve your team. Ask as many Consultants as possible, both new and established, to contribute by bringing a business tip or taking on a role in the meeting. Sharing the responsibility ensures higher attendance and gives a sense of ownership for the meeting. Their input also helps prepare them for their future role as leader.

· Be sure handouts are copied and in order. It is best to have them at each participant’s chair. If there are late arrivals, they will make less of an interruption if they do not have to ask for the materials.

· Audio/Visual equipment (i.e., flip chart, white board, VCR, overhead projector) needs to be in place and ready to use.

· When possible, have a small product display. If there is time left at the end of the session, you can share product information.

· Plan to start your training on time and end on time. Do not wait for late arrivals. They will never learn to be on time if you adjust for them.

· Dress professionally. As a Leader, you play an important role in cultivating the Company image. Your words and actions will show others you treat your business as a business. The tone of the meeting is set by how you dress.

· Music can add excitement to your meetings. Ask a Consultant to supply the music before and after the Meeting. Select contemporary music for an upbeat atmosphere.

· Get yourself in an enthusiastic state before the Consultants enter the room. Your Consultants will pick up on it and it will carry over when they leave.

By: Nicki Keohohou
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