Meeting people and organizing a time to get together is a great way to share ideas, make new friends and plan for the future.  However, whenever you organize a meeting it is always a challenge to really engage the attendees and get them talking.  Without this interaction, a meeting can be boring, unproductive and fall just short of a disaster.  So what is the best way to draw people out and get them to be active participants? Consider these ideas:

1.     Try to do a bit of pre-meeting planning so individuals know what to expect.  This can be done by sending an email to those that have responded to the meeting invite.  Ask them to tell you what topics they would like to see covered.

2.    Share your own ideas.  As the organizer or leader of a meeting, one of the best ways to get people to open up is to be open yourself.  If you share your ideas freely, others will be more inclined to follow suit.

3.    Ask for their opinions.  Some people are just too shy to speak up on their own but they are willing to speak out if asked directly.  A lot of times we overlook this little nuance of human behavior.  Some folks just need to be invited to speak.

4.    Never put down the ideas or suggestions that someone has offered.  Their ideas may be different than yours but every idea and opinion has its own value.  Criticism, sarcasm and ridicule are sure-fire ways to stop communication.

5.    Consider the use of a suggestion box for topics to be covered at future meetings.  Sometimes individuals who are too intimidated to contribute within the group will have good ideas to share.  A suggestion box allows them to share those ideas in a more subtle manner.  If they have identified themselves with the suggestion, be sure to thank them in a positive manner when you bring up their idea, so maybe next time they’ll feel secure enough to share openly with the group.

6.    Try not to rush meetings if possible.  If the atmosphere is calm, friendly and relaxed, you may get better results.  Some people take a little while to become comfortable and willing to participate.

7.    As simple as it may seem, if this is a first meeting, name tags are a great idea.  This way, as leader of the meeting, you can direct questions or ask suggestions of individuals by name.  This automatically makes people feel more at ease in the situation and may result in better communication.

8.    Be sure to show appreciation of ideas and input, and thank individuals openly for their contributions.

9.    If future meetings are planned, try delegating different tasks to different members that they can bring back to the next meeting, something like a homework assignment.  This will not only get people involved with the project, it will also give them time to prepare for presenting what they have found at the next meeting.

10.    Make it fun! Dry, dull and boring meetings are not something anyone enjoys!

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

Social situations where you will be meeting new people are often difficult for some people who feel they just don’t know how to converse with relative strangers.  We usually refer to this type of conversation as “small talk” because it is quite superficial and impersonal.  The fact that this type of conversation is so generic is exactly what makes it difficult for most people.  We are just naturally better able to converse about things that we know well or are passionate about.

But there are some things you can do to improve your ability to speak up in a group of people and still be comfortable and relaxed.

•    One of the first things to remember is to be yourself. If you are so focused on trying to make an impression or being someone you’re not, that is where your mind will be and you won’t be able to concentrate on the conversation at hand.  As a result you may come across as distracted or snobbish simply because you aren’t being natural.

•    Be pleasant.  You may be nervous and scared on the inside but putting a smile on your face will actually help you relax.  In addition, your smile will be returned by others in the group which will help even more.

•    Don’t get bogged down in false assumptions.  You may enter a room where a group of people are chatting and assume that they all know each other.  This may or may not be true but if you think it is, you will be hesitant to approach the group and become a part of the conversation.  It’s better to assume that everyone is in the same boat, and you’ll be far more relaxed.

•    Be a listener. If you first get a handle on what the conversation is about, you can wait for a natural break in the conversation to introduce yourself, add a few words, or ask a question pertinent to the discussion.  This way you won’t appear too forward or pushy. Try to find similarities to your own situation and that of others in the group and start a conversation based on those t things you have in common.  For example, you may work in totally different environments but your children may attend the same school.

•    One old standby to remember when you’re meeting people is, that if all other words fail you, ask a question. If you can find some common element that you share with a person, ask about it.  They will have to answer you and that can usually get the conversational ball rolling.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They’ll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don’t forget to mention www.meetingwave.com as the original source).

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