TURNING MEETINGS FROM DULL TO DYNAMITE.

• Position: Brief Article

Meetings have a serious image problem, says Mel Silberman, professor of adult and organizational development, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pa., and author of 101 Ways to Make Meetings Active. "Almost invariably, people dread meetings. People say they're too long. They don't have the right people there. And they don't resolve anything. But people don't complain about meetings if they feel as though they're being productive and have a voice."

There are ways to turn dull, yawn-inducing meetings into interesting, productive affairs, he maintains. Want participants to learn everyone's name? Have each person talk about their name, its origin, why they like or dislike it, etc. At the end of the exercise, have participants write down everyone's name.

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